Henry Robert Merrill Levan (May 17, 1921 – February 17, 1998) was an American songwriter, theatrical composer, lyricist, and screenwriter.[2] Merrill was one of the most successful songwriters of the 1950s on the US and UK single charts.[3] His musicals for the Broadway stage include Carnival! (music and lyrics) and Funny Girl (lyrics).
Merrill was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and raised in Philadelphia over his family's candy factory and soda fountain. As a teenager, he wanted to be a singer and performed in all local talent contests and even worked as an impressionist-emcee at a local burlesque house. His plans for a career in show business were cut short by the advent of World War II, when he was drafted into the Horse Cavalry Division of the Army.
Career
After the war, Merrill moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a dialogue director for Columbia Pictures,[5] and while on location for a film, he was asked to write some songs for the film actress Dorothy Shay, who was recording an album at the time. Shay's album Park Avenue Hillbilly became a hit, which launched Merrill's career.[5] Soon he was invited to collaborate with Al Hoffman and Clem Watts to write some songs. They came up with a novelty song "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake", recorded in 1948 by Eileen Barton.[6] He also co-wrote the Moon Mullican song "You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry".
Merrill made his Broadway debut in 1957 with New Girl in Town, a musical adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie. The show was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical.[8]Take Me Along followed in 1959, with music and lyrics by Merrill, starring Jackie Gleason and Walter Pidgeon. The musical was nominated for the 1960 Tony Award for Best Musical.[9] In 1961, the film Lili was made into the Broadway musical Carnival!, starring Anna Maria Alberghetti, with words and music by Merrill. The show was nominated for the 1962 Tony Award for Best Musical.[10]
Producer David Merrick hired Merrill to write additional songs for the musical Hello, Dolly! by Jerry Herman. Merrill contributed the songs "Motherhood March" and "Elegance", as well as additional lyrics to Herman's "It Takes a Woman". Merrill did not accept billing or credit for his additions to the score.
He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Prettybelle (1971), starring Angela Lansbury and directed by Gower Champion, which closed in Boston during tryouts.[16] He wrote the music and lyrics for The Prince of Grand Street (1978), starring Robert Preston and directed by Gene Saks, which also closed during its Boston tryouts (following negative reviews during the earlier Philadelphia tryout).[17]
Merrill was married to Dolores Marquez in 1964; they divorced and he married Suzanne Reynolds in 1976.[1] Suffering from depression and ill health in his later years, Merrill took his own life on February 17, 1998.[6][24]
