Al Goodhart


Al Goodhart was an American songwriter, composer, pianist, radio announcer, writer, talent agent, and vaudeville entertainer.

Life and career

Al Goodhart born in New York City on January 26, 1905. He was educated at DeWitt Clinton High School. He worked in a variety of careers during his lifetime; earning a living as variously a vaudeville pianist, radio announcer, writer, composer, and talent agent.
Beginning in the early 1930s, Goodhart's career turned towards working as a composer of music for songs. A member of ASCAP, he first gained success as a tune smith working in collaboration with the already established songwriter Al Hoffman with "I Apologize", "Auf wiederseheh'n, My Dear", "Happy Go Lucky You and Broken Hearted Me", "In the Dim Dawning", "I Saw Stars", "Who Walks In", and "Fit as a Fiddle" being the most successful songs produced from their collaboration. The latter song was featured later in the 1952 film Singin' in the Rain and its subsequent stage adaptation.
In 1934 Goodhart, along with Hoffman, relocated to England to join the composing staff of the music department of the British division of the French film company Gaumont. He wrote music there from 1934 to 1937. With collaborators Hoffman and Maurice Sigler, Goodhart scored music for the stage and screen, particularly musical films starring Jessie Matthews. During WWII, Goodhart travelled with the USO, entertaining troops in the United States and abroad.
His other chief collaborators included Mann Curtis, Sammy Lerner, Ed Nelson, Kay Twomey and Allan Roberts.
He died in 1955, aged 50.

Songs

1930:
  • Dangerous Nan McGrew
1931:
  • I Apologize
1932:
  • Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear
  • Happy-Go-Lucky-You
  • Fit as a Fiddle
  • It's Winter Again
1933:
  • Roll Up the Carpet
  • Meet Me in the Gloaming
  • Two Buck Tim from Timbuctoo
1934:
  • I Saw Stars
  • Jimmy Had a Nickel
  • Who Walks in When I Walk Out?
  • Why Don't You Practice What You Preach?
  • Your Guess Is Just as Good as Mine
1935:
  • Black Coffee
1936:
1937:
1939:
1942:
  • Johnny Doughboy found a Rose in Ireland
  • Better Not Roll Those Blue, Blue Eyes
1947:
  • Serenade of the Bells
  • Who Were You Kissing?
1948:
  • In a Little Book Shop
1949:
  • Festival of Roses
1950:
  • The Place Where I Worship

    Other songs

  • Black Eyed Susan Brown
  • I Was Watching a Man Paint a Fence
  • I Wish I Had a Record
  • May All Your Troubles Be Little Ones
  • Smith And Jones
  • Stop The Music
  • Those Things Money Can't Buy
  • Watching The Trains Go By
  • With a Hey Nonny Nonny

    Notable performers of his songs

  • "Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear"
  • "Fit as a Fiddle"
  • "I Apologize"
  • "I Saw Stars"
  • "I'm in a Dancing Mood"
  • "Johnny Doughboy Found a Rose in Ireland"
  • "The Place Where I Worship"
  • "Serenade of the Bells"
  • "Those Things Money Can't Buy"
  • "Watching the Trains Go By"
  • "Who Walks In When I Walk Out?"
  • "Romance Runs in the Family"
  • "Ya Got Love"