Felix William Bernard(April 28, 1897 – October 20, 1944) was an American conductor, pianist and a composer of popular music. His writing credits include the popular songs "Winter Wonderland"(with lyricistRichard B. Smith) and "Dardanella".
Felix Bernard | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Felix Bernhardt |
| Born | April 28, 1897 New York City,U.S. |
| Died | October 20, 1944(aged 47) Los Angeles,California,U.S. |
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Biography
editFelix Bernard (Bernhardt) was born to a Jewish family[1][2]inNew York Cityon April 28, 1897, and died inLos Angeles,California, on October 20, 1944. A professional pianist from childhood, his early musical studies were with his father, and his formal musical education was fromRensselaer Polytechnic Instituteand CR. Bernard wrote professional one-act musical comedies forvaudeville,and he toured throughout the United States with the Orpheum andKeith Vaudeville Circuit,and also abroad.
Bernard worked as a pianist for dance orchestras and music publishers before forming his own band. His also had his own radio show which he produced. Best known as a composer, Bernard found success writing musical material for artists such asAl Jolson,Nora Bayes,Eddie Cantor,Marilyn Miller,andSophie Tucker.In 1934 Bernard joinedASCAPwhere his chief musical collaborators wereSam Coslow,L. Wolfe Gilbert,Richard B. Smith,andJohnny Black.
Other musical compositions by Felix Bernard include "The Mailman's Got My Letter", "Jane", "You Opened My Eyes", "I'd Rather Be Me", "Cutest Kid in Town", "Tom Thumb and Tiny Teens", "What Am I Goin' to Do for Lovin'?", "Painter In The Sky", "Twenty One Dollars a Day Once a Month", and "The Whistlin' Cowboy".
References
edit- ^"The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs (2012)".28 December 2012.
- ^Bloom, Nate (December 22, 2014)."All those Holiday/Christmas Songs: So Many Jewish Songwriters!".Jewish World Review.