Ralph Freed

Ralph Freed c 1945
Ralph Freed MGM c 1940s

Ralph Freed (1 May 1907, Vancouver - February 13, 1973) was a Canadian born American lyricist and television producer.[1]

Early life

Born May 1, 1907 to Max Freed and Rosie (Rosza) Grossman who met in Charleston, SC. Ralph married Grace H. Berchman aka Grace Saxon (Saxon Sisters) and had two children. Graduated Hollywood High School

Freed was the brother of Victor (b 1896), Hugo (b 1897), Sidney (b 1900), Walter (b 1903), Ruth (b 1906), and Clarence (b 1911), and Arthur Freed (b 1894).[1][2]


Career

Writer and Lyricist, under contract with MGM, Universal, and Paramount during the "Golden Age."

Freed's collaborators included Sammy Fain and Harry Barris. With Burton Lane, Freed wrote "How About You?" for the Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney musical Babes on Broadway. The song received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song at the 15th Academy Awards.[3]

Notable songs

  • "How About You?"
  • "Little Dutch Mill"
  • "Who Walks in When I Walk Out?"
  • "Mama Don't Allow It"
  • "You Leave Me Breathless"
  • "Just the Way You Are"
  • "Hawaiian War Chant"
  • "Adios Amigo"
  • "I Thought of You Last Night"[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Ken Bloom (June 2001). American Song: Songwriters. Schirmer Books. p. 366. ISBN 9780028654782. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  2. ^ Thomas S. Hischak (2 June 2008). The Oxford Companion to the American Musical:Theatre, Film, and Television: Theatre, Film, and Television. Oxford University Press. pp. 264–. ISBN 978-0-19-533533-0. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  3. ^ Billboard. 18 January 1997. pp. 10–. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  4. ^ 1952 hit for Jeri Southern