Biography of Jimmy Kennedy
This is the biography of Jimmy Kennedy and contains a comprehensive list of hits, including lyrics. Jimmy Kennedy was a pre-eminent British lyricist of the mid-20th century, who like Irving Berlin before him, prolifically wrote thousands of songs, hundreds being hits and scores being evergreen classics
James B. Kennedy was born on 20th July, 1902, in Brookmount Road, Omagh, Northern Ireland, the son of Joseph H. Kennedy, a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.). Raised in Portstewart, an Ulster coastal resort in County Londonderry, he graduated from Dublin's Trinity College and took up teaching in England. In 1927 he joined the Colonial Service as a civil servant and in 1931 his first composition, "The Barmaid's Song" was published (sung by Gracie Fields).
He was introduced to music publisher Bert Feldman, based in Denmark Street in London's Tin Pan Alley, and became a writer in residence at Feldman's
"The Teddy Bears' Picnic", a popular piece of music from 1907, was often used in pantomimes and one day in 1932 Feldman asked Kennedy to pen some words, which he did and which Feldman didn't particularly like.
Henry Hall and his orchestra had a BBC Radio show and "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" was often used as an introductory tune to the Childrens' section of the show. One of Hall's staff was in Jimmy Kennedy's office and noticed the words to "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" and asked for, and was granted, permission to take them away.
Henry Hall played/sang the new version on the radio and there was an instant reaction from the listening public who wanted the sheet music. As the sheet music with words had not been published, this was a cause of embarrassment to Feldman and in punishment to Kennedy no royalties were paid to him for that song during the rest of Feldman's life
"Play to Me, Gypsy" followed, but when in 1934 Feldman rejected Kennedy's "Isle of Capri" (written with Will Grosz), the lyricist joined publisher Peter Maurice. "isle of Capri" was a huge hit
Around that same time, Kennedy began writing with Michael Carr, inaugurating the most fertile creative partnership of his career. The duo's five-year collaboration yielded a series of hits, including "South of the Border," "Hometown," and "We're Gonna Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line," in addition to theatrical productions like 1936's +O-Kay for Sound, 1937's +London Rhapsody, and 1939's +The Little Dog Laughed. Apart from Carr, Kennedy also notched the popular favorites "Red Sails in the Sunset," "Serenade in the Night," and "Harbor Lights," and upon revamping the lyrics to the traditional "The Cokey Cokey," launched a hugely popular party dance. After serving in the British Army during World War IIWhile serving in the British Army's Royal Artillery, where he rose to the rank of Captain, he wrote the wartime hit, , he resumed his prolific musical production with the likes of "An Apple Blossom Wedding," "April in Portugal," and "Instanbul (Not Constantinople)," although by the late '50s the advent of rock roll effectively brought his hitmaking days to an end.
In 1960, Kennedy relocated to Switzerland, returning to Ireland over a decade later; there he collaborated with Stewart Parker on the musical +Spokesong, his last major work. In 1984, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors introduced its annual Jimmy Kennedy Award; the lyricist died on April 6 of that year.
performing stars including, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, The Platters, Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong, Roy Orbison: Tom Jones, Glenn Miller and countless others.
One of the biggest hits in the illustrious career of The Platters, was one of Jimmy Kennedy's finest, "My Prayer," (1939)which reached number two in the American Hit Parade, when "South of the Border,"(1939) which ultimately was recorded over 300 times was number one. The feat in 1939 was not accomplished again until Lennon and McCartney did so in the sixties. The "Cokey Cokey" was one of the biggest dance sensations of the war. "April in Portugal", one of the most recorded songs of the fifties and "Red Sails in the Sunset" were among his biggest earners, while "Teddy Bears' Picnic," written in 1932, was not far behind.
Wilhelm Grosz (aka Hugh Williams) and Nat Simon among others.
In a career spanning more than fifty years he wrote some 2000 songs, of which over 200 became world-wide hits and about 50 are all-time popular music classics.
Until John Lennon and Paul McCartney, he had more hits in the United States than any other Irish or British songwriter.[citation needed] His first success came in 1931 with the "Barmaids Song" "Red Sails in the Sunset" (1935) was inspired by a beautiful summer evening in Portstewart in 1935, and "South of the Border" by a holiday picture postcard he received from Tijuana, Mexico. While serving in the British Army's Royal Artillery, where he rose to the rank of Captain, he wrote the wartime hit, "We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" for the British Expeditionary Force. His hits also include "The Isle of Capri", "My Prayer", "Teddy Bears' Picnic" (music by John Walter Bratton), "Love is Like a Violin", "Hokey Cokey" and "Roll Along Covered Wagon".
Many of Kennedy's songs were recorded by such famous artists as Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, The Platters, Vera Lynn, Petula Clark, Paul Robeson, Perry Como, Fats Domino, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Glen Miller and Elvis Presley. More recently, Englebert Humperdinck (singer) and Belfast-born Brian Kennedy (singer) have both released recordings of "Red Sails in the Sunset"; The Beatles performed the same song during their Hamburg days.
Kennedy won two Ivor Novello Awards for his contribution to music and received an honorary degree from the New University of Ulster. He was also awarded the OBE in 1983. In 1997 he was posthumously inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.
Jimmy Kennedy died in Cheltenham, England, and is buried in Taunton, Somerset. He is survived by two sons, Jimmy Junior and Derek.
Film Scores
2000 The 6TH DAY, 1953 PACK TRAIN, 1945 NIGHT CLUB GIRL, 1945 EVE KNEW HER APPLES, 1941 DOWN MEXICO WAY, 1939 SOUTH OF THE BORDER, 1938 KICKING THE MOON AROUND, 1937 LET’S MAKE A NIGHT OF IT, 1937 JERICHO, 1937 MOUNTAIN JUSTICE, 1935 THE ARIZONIAN, 1935 SHE SHALL HAVE THE MUSIC, 1935 LIVING ON VELVET, 1935 THE CASE OF THE CURIOUS BRIDE, 1935 THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER,
MY PRAYER
When the twilight is gone and no song bird is singing,
when the twilight is gone you come into my heart
and here in my heart you will stay while I pray.
My prayer is to linger with you
at the end of the day in a dream that's divine.
My prayer is a rapture in blue
with the world far away and your lips close to mine.
Tonight while our hearts are aglow,
oh, tell me the words that I mlonging to know.
My prayer and the answer you give
may they still be the same for as long as we live
that you'll always be there at the end of my prayer.
- Jimmy Kennedy
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
{Bridge}
Even old New York
Was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way
So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works
That's nobody's business but the Turks'
Do do do, do-do-do dododododo
Oh, oh-oh-oh...
Do do do, do-do-do dododododo
Do do do, do-do-do dododododo
We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line.
Have you any dirty washing, mother dear?
We're gonna hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line.
'Cause the washing day is here.
Whether the weather may be wet or fine.
We'll just rub along without a care.
We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line.
If the Siegfried Line's still there.
Mother dear, I'm writing you from somewhere in France
Hoping this finds you well.
Sergeant says I'm doing fine - a soldier and a half
Here's a song that we all sing
This'll make you laugh...
`twas on the Isle of Capri that I found her
Beneath the shade of an old walnut tree
Oh, I can still see the flow'rs bloomin' round her
Where we met on the Isle of Capri
She was as sweet as a rose at the dawning
But somehow fate hadn't meant her for me
And though I sailed with the tide in the morning
Still my heart's on the Isle of Capri
Summertime was nearly over
Blue Italian sky above
I said 'Lady, I'm a rover,
Can you spare a sweet word o'love?'
She whispered softly 'It's best not to linger'
And then as I kissed her hand I could see
She wore a lovely meatball on her finger
'twas goodbye at the Villa Capri
<instrumental-horns with mandolin>
Summertime was nearly over
Blue Italian sky above
I said 'Lady, I'm a rover,
Can you spare a fine word o'love?'
She whispered softly 'It's best not to linger'
And then as I kissed her hand I could see
She wore a plain golden ring on her finger
'twas goodbye on the Isle of Capri
'twas goodbye on the Isle of Capri
'twas goodbye on the Isle of Capri
HARBOR LIGHTS
I saw the harbor lights.
They only told me we were parting.
The same old harbor lights
that once broughts you to me.
I watch'd the harbor lights.
How could I help if tears were starting?
Goodbye to tender nights
beside the silv ry sea.
I longed to hold you near and kiss you just once more
but you were on the ship and I was on the shore.
Now I know lonely nights
for all the while my heart is whisp ring
some other harbor lights
will steal your love from me.
Songs
AGNES WALTZ, THE Writer: William Hannah, Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Bourne Co./EMI Full Keel Music
ALOHA OE Writer: Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: N/A
AN ANGEL MADE OF ICE Writer: Percy Faith, Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Drolet Music/Odette Music Corp.
AN APPLE BLOSSOM WEDDING Writer: Nat Simon, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Shapiro Bernstein & Co., Inc.
Billboard: Reached Number 5 on the Billboard chart in 1947
AND MIMI Writer: Nat Simon, Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Shapiro Bernstein & Co., Inc.
Billboard: Reached Number 14 on the Billboard chart in 1947
AND THE MOON GREW BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER Writer: Louis Singer, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Oliver Music Publishing
ANGEL MINE Writer: William Irwin, Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: N/A
APRIL IN PORTUGAL Writer: Raul Ferrao, Jose Galhardo, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Chappell & Co., Inc.
Billboard: Reached Number 2 on the Billboard chart in 1953
AT THE CAF?â CONTINENTAL Writer: Wilhelm Grosz, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Colgems EMI Music, Inc./Harms, Inc.
BARCAROLA Writer: Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Chappell & Co., Inc.
BARREN EARTH Writer: Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Cypress Creek
BELLS OF MEMORY, THE Writer: Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Odette Music Corp.
BIRD ON THE WING Writer: Wilhelm Grosz, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Colgems EMI Music, Inc
BLAZE AWAY Writer: Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: N/A
BLUE BAHAMAS Writer: Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Universal MCA Music Publishing/Campbell-Connelly, Inc.
BOOGIE ON THE SCALES
Writer: Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Shapiro Bernstein & Co., Inc.
BY AN OLD PAGODA Writer: Wilhelm Grosz, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Colgems EMI Music, Inc./Wilhelm Grosz Music Co.
CAN YOU SAY WALTZ? Writer: Nat Simon, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Universal MCA Music Publishing/Campbell-Connelly, Inc.
CE SOIR Writer: Virgilio Panzuti, Giancarlo Testoni, Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Morley Music Co.
CHAPTER IN MY LIFE Writer: Nat Simon, Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Shapiro Bernstein & Co., Inc.
CHESTNUT TREE Writer: Thomas Connor, Jimmy Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy Publisher: Colgems EMI Music, Inc./Shapiro Bernstein & Co., Inc.
Billboard: Reached Number 12 on the Billboard chart in 1939
CINDERELLA Writer: Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Colgems EMI Music, Inc./Shapiro Bernstein & Co., Inc.
Billboard: Reached Number 3 on the Billboard chart in 1939
CLOUDS IN THE SUNSET Writer: Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Shapiro Bernstein & Co., Inc.
COKEY COKEY, THE Writer: Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Campbell-Connelly, Inc.
CORONATION WALTZ Writer: Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Colgems EMI Music, Inc./De Sylva Brown and Henderson
COUPLE OF APRIL FOOLS Writer: Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy Publisher: Chappell & Co., Inc.
DARLING COME HOME
Writer: Louis Singer, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: N/A
DID YOUR MOTHER COME FROM IRELAND?
Writer: Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: De Sylva Brown Henderson/Colgems EMI Music, Inc.
DOGGIE ON THE HIGHWAY
Writer: Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Odette Music Corp.
DON’T MAKE A MEMORY OF ME
Writer: Louis Singer, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Chappell & Co., Inc.
DON’T SAY IT’S TRUE
Writer: Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: N/A
DOWN THE TRAIL OF ACHING HEART
Writer: Nat Simon, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Mutual Music Society, Inc.
Billboard: Reached Number 17 on the Billboard chart in 1951
ENTER AND REST AND PRAY
Writer: Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Anne-Rachel Music Corp.
FAITHFUL
Writer: Alex Alstone, Jimmy Kennedy, Larry Spier
Publisher: Bourne Co./Larry Spier, Inc.
FALLING LEAVES
Writer: Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Colgems EMI Music, Inc.
FIESTA, THE
Writer: Nat Simon, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Larry Spier, Inc.
FRENCH CAN-CAN POLKA, THE
Writer: Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Universal MCA Music Publishing
FROM YOUR LIPS ONLY
Writer: Nat Simon, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Mutual Music Society, Inc.
GENERALS FAST ASLEEP, THE
Writer: Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Chappell & Co., Inc./Colgems EMI Music, Inc.
GOD’S LITTLE CANDLES
Writer: Jimmy Kennedy
Publisher: Anne-Rachel Music Corp.
HAPPY WHISTLER
HARBOR LIGHTS
HARMONY OF THE HILLS
HER NAME WAS ROSITA
HOME TOWN
HONEYMOON LOVE SONG
HOUR NEVER PASSES, AN
I’M BUYING THE BLUES TONIGHT
I’M WRITING A LETTER
IF I COULD PRAY
IF WE MET FOR THE FIRST TIME
IF YOU WERE MINE
IF YOU’RE GONG MY WAY
IN A STRANGE PAIR OF ARMS
IN THE PYRENEES
ISLE OF CAPRI, THE
ISTANBUL - NOT CONSTANTINOPLE
JARVEY WAS A LEPRECHAUN
LAND OF THE RAINBOW
LIGHTS OF MALTA
LIST NIN TO THE GREEN GRASS
LITTLE GOLDEN LOCKET
LOVE IS LIKE A VIOLIN
LOVE ME SLOWLY WITH EXPRESSION
MA GIGOLETTE
MAGIC TANGO, THE
MAMBO DE PAREE
MANDOLINS IN THE MOONLIGHT
MAYFAIR MERRY GO ROUND
MEM’RY OF A ROSE
MERRY GO ROUND WALTZ
MILLER’S DAUGHTER MARIANNE
MILLIONS LIKE US
MISTLE TOE KISS POLKA
MISTY ISLANDS OF THE HIGHLANDS
MOON ABOVE MALAYA
MOSQUITO’S PARADE
MUSIC BOX GAVOTTE
MY ARMS ARE A HOUSE
MY BOLERO
MY IMPOSSIBLE CASTLE
MY IRISH SONG
MY LOST LOVE Nostalgia
MY LOVE FOR YOU
MY PRAYER
MY SONG GOES ROUND THE WORLD
MY TWILIGHT PRAYER
NO HEART AT ALL
NO YOU
OH NICHOLAS…
OH PAIN, OH AGONY
OKAY FOR SOUND
OLD MAMMY MINE
ON THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL
ON THE PAINTED DESERT
ON THE TRAIL WHERE THE SUN IS
ONLY RED WE WANT IS THE RED WE SEE, THE
PHANTOM STAGE COACH, THE
PINK POODLES OF PARIS
PLAY TO ME GYPSY
PONY EXPRESS
POOR LITTLE ANGELINE
POOR WHIP, POOR WILL
RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET
RENDEZVOUS D’AMOUR
RICKSHAW RIDE
ROLL ALONG COVERED WAGON
ROSE OF RIO
SAN ANITA MOONLIGHT
SANDY’S TUNE
SERENADE IN THE NIGHT
SHE TOOK
SING A SONG OF LONDON
SKYE BOAT SONG
SMILE MAY HIDE A FROWN, A
SMILE SONG
SOMETHING IN MY EYE
SOUTH OF THE BORDER (DOWN MEXICO WAY)
SPICE OF LIFE, THE
SPIDER AND THE FLY, THE
ST…ST…ST…ST…STELLA
SUNSET TRAIL
SWEET HEARTACHES
TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC
TEN PRETTY GIRLS
THERE’S A BIG DAY COMING
THERE’S A BOY COMING HOME
THERE’S A NEW WORLD
THEY PUT THE LIGHTS OUT
THEY’RE MOVING FATHER’S GRAVE
TONIGHT GIVE ME AN HOUR OF LOVE
TREASURE OF MY HEART
TWO BOUQUETS
UNDER THE SUN VALLEY MOON
WALTZ OF THE GIPSIES
WE’LL GO A LONG, LONG WAY
WE’RE GONNA HANG OUT THE WASHING ON THE SIEGFRIED LINE
WE’RE TOPS ON SATURDAY NIGHT
WHEN BUDAPEST WAS YOUNG
WHEN CAF?â LIGHTS WERE LOW
WHEN MY HEART SAYS SING
WHERE FLAMINGOS FLY
WHERE THE SWEETHEART IS
WHISPERING SERENADE
WHO KNOWS LOVE
WHY DID SHE FALL FOR THE LEADER
WITH ME OULD CLAY PIPE
WITH ONE RED ROSE
WOTCHA GOTCHA TROMBONE FOR?
WRITE TO ME FROM NAPLES
YOGIE THE DOGGIE
YOU’RE WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH ME
YOU’VE GOT TO TAKE YOUR PICK
YOUTH GOES MARCHING ON