BURTON LANE
Name: Burton Lane
Born: 2 February 1912
Died: 5 January 1997
Burton Lane (February 2, 1912, New York City - January 5, 1997, New York City)
was an American composer and lyricist.
Lane (real name Burton Levy) was best known for his Broadway musicals, Finian's
Rainbow (1947) and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965). He also wrote the
music for the less successful Broadway shows, Hold On to Your Hats (1940),
Laffing Room Only (1944), Junior Miss (1957), and Carmelina (1979), the latter
with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, who had also written lyrics to Lane's music for
On a Clear Day and the film Royal Wedding (1951). Lane also wrote music for
films such as Dancing Lady, Babes on Broadway, and Some Like it Hot. For a time,
he was president of the American Guild of Authors and Composers, during which
period he campaigned against music piracy. He also served three terms on the
board of directors of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
(ASCAP).
Lane's best-known songs include "Old Devil Moon," "How are Things In Glocca
Morra?", "Too Late Now," "How About You?", and the title song from "On a Clear
Day." He shared a Grammy Award in 1965 for Best Broadway Cast Album of the year
(On a Clear Day You Can See Forever).
Lane is credited by Songwriters' Hall of Fame
with discovering the 11-year-old Frances Gumm (Judy Garland). He caught her
sisters' act at the Paramount theater in Hollywood which featured a movie and a
live stage show. The sisters, Susie and Mary Jane, brought on the kid, Frances,
who sang "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart". Lane immediately called Jack
Robbins, head of the music department at MGM, and told her he'd just heard a
great new talent.
Robbins told him to bring her in next day for an audition which Lane did.
Robbins was knocked out by the little girl's voice (Lane played the audition
piano for her), rushed upstairs and dragged Louis B. Mayer down to listen to her
belt out some songs. Mayer was so impressed he ordered every writer, director
and producer on the lot to hear her with the result that the audition, which
began at 9 am, finished at 7:30 pm. But Frances (Judy) was signed, and that was
the start of her great career. Because of circumstance, and contractural
arrangements, Burton Lane didn't work with her again for seven years (Babes on
Broadway), but it was definitely he who discovered her.
Name: Burton Lane
Born: 2 February 1912
Died: 5 January 1997
Burton Lane (February 2, 1912, New York City - January 5, 1997, New York City)
was an American composer and lyricist.
Lane (real name Burton Levy) was best known for his Broadway musicals, Finian's
Rainbow (1947) and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965). He also wrote the
music for the less successful Broadway shows, Hold On to Your Hats (1940),
Laffing Room Only (1944), Junior Miss (1957), and Carmelina (1979), the latter
with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, who had also written lyrics to Lane's music for
On a Clear Day and the film Royal Wedding (1951). Lane also wrote music for
films such as Dancing Lady, Babes on Broadway, and Some Like it Hot. For a time,
he was president of the American Guild of Authors and Composers, during which
period he campaigned against music piracy. He also served three terms on the
board of directors of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
(ASCAP).
Lane's best-known songs include "Old Devil Moon," "How are Things In Glocca
Morra?", "Too Late Now," "How About You?", and the title song from "On a Clear
Day." He shared a Grammy Award in 1965 for Best Broadway Cast Album of the year
(On a Clear Day You Can See Forever).
Lane is credited by Songwriters' Hall of Fame
with discovering the 11-year-old Frances Gumm (Judy Garland). He caught her
sisters' act at the Paramount theater in Hollywood which featured a movie and a
live stage show. The sisters, Susie and Mary Jane, brought on the kid, Frances,
who sang "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart". Lane immediately called Jack
Robbins, head of the music department at MGM, and told her he'd just heard a
great new talent.
Robbins told him to bring her in next day for an audition which Lane did.
Robbins was knocked out by the little girl's voice (Lane played the audition
piano for her), rushed upstairs and dragged Louis B. Mayer down to listen to her
belt out some songs. Mayer was so impressed he ordered every writer, director
and producer on the lot to hear her with the result that the audition, which
began at 9 am, finished at 7:30 pm. But Frances (Judy) was signed, and that was
the start of her great career. Because of circumstance, and contractural
arrangements, Burton Lane didn't work with her again for seven years (Babes on
Broadway), but it was definitely he who discovered her.