Уолтер Дональдсон: Америкалық ән жазушының өмірі мен шығармашылығы

the American songwriter

Walter Donaldson (February 15, 1893 – July 15, 1947) was an American prolific popular songwriter and publishing company founder, composing many hit songs of the 1910s to 1940s, that have become standards and form part of the Great American Songbook.

Walter Donaldson was born in Brooklyn, New York State, United States, the son of a piano teacher. After serving in the United States Army in World War I, Donaldson was hired as a songwriter by Irving Berlin Music Company. He stayed with Berlin until 1928, producing many hit songs, then in 1928 established his own publishing company. Although Walter Donaldson's company was officially known as "Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble, Inc.," it was printed in fine print alongside Walter Donaldson's name in every publication. Donaldson frequently worked with lyricist Gus Kahn, after first working together in 1915. At the end of the 1920s, Donaldson moved to Hollywood, California, and worked composing and arranging music for motion pictures. His film credits include work on such pictures as Glorifying the American Girl, Suzy, The Great Ziegfeld, Panama Hattie, Follow the Boys and What's Buzzin', Cousin?. He married Dorothy in 1935, who was on the New York stage as Wanda Mansfield, but they divorced in 1942 after having two children. Walter Donaldson retired in 1943, and died four years later in Santa Monica, California, after being ill for a year with kidney problems. He is buried at an unmarked grave at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn.