Frank Loesser Biography

Frank Henry Loesser (June 29, 1910, New York City - July 26, 1969, New York City) was an American composer and lyricist. He died of lung cancer at age 59.

During World War II, he wrote 1942's "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition". Formerly a successful lyricist in collaboration with other composers, this was the first song for which Loesser composed the melody in addition to the lyric.

He wrote the following Broadway musicals:

• Where's Charley? (1948) (starring Ray Bolger)
  • "Once in Love With Amy"
• Guys and Dolls (1950)
  • "A Bushel and a Peck"
  • "Fugue for Tinhorns"
  • "I'll Know"
  • "If I Were A Bell", a favourite of Miles Davis, featured in recordings with John Coltrane
  • "Luck Be a Lady Tonight"
• The Most Happy Fella (1956)
  • "Standing on the Corner"
  • "Big D"
  • "Somebody Somewhere"
  • "Joey"
• Greenwillow (1960)
• How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (1961)
  • "I Believe In You"
• Pleasures and Palaces (1965)

Some well-known songs he composed for movies and Tin Pan Alley:

• "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (from Neptune's Daughter). This was originally a song which Loesser and his wife Lynn (born Blankenbaker) performed at parties for the private entertainment of friends. They also recorded the song for Mercury Records. Under contract to MGM to supply a full score for "Neptune's Daughter", Loesser included this song which he had created more than a decade earlier.
• "Heart and Soul" (from the Paramount Short Subject A Song is Born) -- lyrics
• "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (from the Paramount Pictures motion picture Sweater Girl)
• "Inch Worm" (from the motion picture Hans Christian Andersen)
• "On a Slow Boat to China"
• "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year" (from the motion picture Christmas Holiday)
• "Thumbelina" (from Hans Christian Andersen)
• "What are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
• "Wonderful Copenhagen" (from Hans Christian Andersen), which is now the official song of the city of Copenhagen.