Peter Udell
b. , New York, NY, USA
Overview Lyricist Peter Udell worked with several composers including Hoagy Carmichael, Gary Geld, Tommy Goodman, and Lee Pockriss, before forming a team with Gary Geld, in the 1950's. They went on to to produce independent Rhythm and Blues hit songs before turning to the Broadway stage.

Udell was taught some of the fundamentals of lyric writing by such men as Frank Loesser (Udell worked in the stockroom for Loesser's company), and Hoagy Carmichael, with whom he wrote "So Happy I Could Cry".

After working with such composers as Tommy Goodman and Lee Pockriss, Udell and composer Gary Geld became a working team. The music publishers were losing their clout at this time, so Udell and Geld formed an independent record/publishing company called 'Pogo Productions', and signed some rhythm and blues singers, among which were Jackie Wilson and Brian Hyland. Among their hit songs at this time are:
"Ginny Come Lately"
"Let Me Belong To You"
"Sealed With a Kiss"
Then the Beatles came along; an event that signaled the end of the 'Pop' song era that had swept the world from the 1900's to the 1960's.

About this time, Geld relocated to Los Angeles, CA. Udell thought about a new partner, but he convinced Geld to come back from California to work on the play "Purlie", which opened on March 15, 1970. The show was based on Ossie Davis' book 'Purlie Victorious'. The show starred the then unknown Melba Moore and Cleavon Little. 'Purlie' was nominated for a Tony Award, but 'Applause' won out. The song, "I Got Love", sung by Melba, made her a star.

1975 Geld and Udell score The Broadway musical 'Shenendoah'. The show was not well received. Udell wrote, perhaps, 75% of the music, with Geld adding the proper harmonies and also contributing some new melodies.

Geld and Udell score The Broadway musical 'Angel',Ketti Frings book (based on book 'Look Homeward Angel' by Thomas Wolfe). Udell has said that he was thinking of his father when he worked on this play, and was hurt when the play was not well received. Some of the show's tunes included,
"Drifting"
"If I Ever Loved Him"
"Feelin' Loved"

1979 The Broadway show 'Coming Uptown' was an all-black version of the famous Dickens 'A Christmas Carol'. Panned by the critics, the show closed quickly.
"What Better Time For Love?"
"Have I Finally Found My Heart?"

The Musical Amen Corner, open in 1983 with Book by Philip Rose and Peter Udell; Music by Garry Sherman with Udell lyrics. It was based on based on the play "Amen Corner" by James Baldwin