James V. Monaco
James Vincent Monaco was an Italian-born American composer of popular music.
Life and career
Monaco was born in Foiano di Val Fortore, Italy. His family emigrated to the United States when he was six, and he grew up in Albany, New York, where he started playing piano in bars by the age of 18. He relocated to Chicago, where he became known as "Ragtime Jimmie", before moving to New York City in 1910.He played piano at cafes in Manhattan and at Coney Island, and wrote his first successful song, "Oh, You Circus Day", which was featured in a Broadway revue, Hanky Panky, in 1911. Further success came the following year with "Row, Row, Row" in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1912, and perhaps his best remembered song, "You Made Me Love You", which was introduced by Al Jolson in 1913 and performed by Judy Garland with revised lyrics as "Dear Mr Gable" in 1937.
In 1914, Monaco became a charter member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Over the next two decades, Monaco "presented the almost archetypal portrait of a successful Tin Pan Alley writer."
Working with a number of lyricists, he wrote several more hits, including "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?" and "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face", which was performed in 1927 by Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer. He continued to work with Edgar Leslie, and their 1932 song "Crazy People" was used as the theme song to George Burns and Gracie Allen's radio program. In the mid-1930s, Monaco also led his own dance band.
He moved to Hollywood in 1936 to work for Paramount Studios, and formed a songwriting partnership with lyricist Johnny Burke. They wrote successfully for several Bing Crosby movies, including the songs "My Heart Is Taking Lessons", "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams", and "Only Forever".
From 1942, Monaco worked with several lyricists, including Mack Gordon; their most successful song was "I Can't Begin to Tell You" from the 1945 film The Dolly Sisters, one of four Monaco compositions that were nominated for Oscars.
Monaco died from a heart attack in 1945 in Beverly Hills, California, aged 60.
Awards and recognition
Four of Monaco's songs received Academy Award nominations for Best Song:- "Only Forever" from the 1940 film Rhythm on the River
- "We Mustn't Say Goodbye" from the 1943 film Stage Door Canteen
- "I'm Making Believe" from the 1944 film Sweet and Low-Down
- "I Can't Begin to Tell You" from the 1945 film The Dolly Sisters. This was a posthumous nomination.
In 2005, a revue of Monaco's music called Ragtime Jimmie opened in New York City as part of the American Composer Series.