Al Stillman

Al Stillman
Birth name	Albert Irving Silverman
Born	(1901-06-26)June 26, 1901 New York City,U.S.A.
Died	February 17, 1979(1979-02-17)(aged 77) New York City,U.S.A.
Occupation	Lyricist

Al Stillman(néAlbert Irving Silverman;26 June 1901Manhattan,New York– 17 February 1979Manhattan,New York)was an Americanlyricist.

Biography

Al Stillman was born as Albert Irving Silverman toJewishparentsHerman Silverman and Gertrude Rubin(maiden).He adopted the name "Albert Stillman" as a professional pseudonym. He chose the name, reportedly, because it was the recognizable surname of a well-known New Yorkbanking family.He wasJewish.He attendedNew York University.After graduation, he contributed toFranklin P. Adams'newspapercolumn, and in 1933 became a staff writer atRadio City Music Hall,a position he held for almost 40 years.

Al Stillman collaborated with a number of composers:Fred Ahlert,Robert Allen,Percy Faith,George Gershwin,Ernesto Lecuona,Paul McGrane,Kay Swift,andArthur Schwartz.Many of his collaborations with Allen were major hits in the 1950s forThe Four Lads;the Stillman/Allen team also wrote hit songs forPerry ComoandJohnny Mathis.

Al Stillman was inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Famein 1982.

Songs for which Stillman wrote lyrics

Music by Robert Allen

Perry Como hits

• "Home for the Holidays"(1954) (Still played during theChristmasholiday.)
• "My One and Only Heart"(1953)
• "You Alone (Solo Tu)" (1953, redone in 1961)

Four Lads hits

• "Enchanted Island"(1958)
• "Moments to Remember"(1955)
• "No, Not Much"(1956)
• "There’s Only One of You"(1958)
• "Who Needs You?"(1956)

Johnny Mathis hits

• "Chances Are"(1957)
• "It's Not For Me to Say"(1957)
• "Teacher, Teacher"(1958)

Music by Ernesto Lecuona

• "The Breeze and I"(1940)
• "In Spain They Say ‘Si Si’"(co-written withFrancia Luban)
• "You're the One"as recorded byKathy Kirbyin 1964

Others

• "Air Cadet Song(music byLouis E.De Francesco,1944 (published by Sam Fox Pub Co. NY NY)
• "Alley Cat"(music byBent Fabric)
• "And That Reminds Me"(or"My Heart Reminds Me") (written withCamillo Bargoni,Dante Panzuti,andPaul Siegel.) (A hit for singersVikki Carr,Kay Starr,Julie London,Della Reese,Dean Martin,among others.)
• "Bless 'em All"(withFred Godfrey,Frank Kerslake,andJames Lally) (aWorld War IIsong)
• "Can You Find It in Your Heart"
• "Don'cha Go 'Way Mad"(music byIllinois JacquetandJimmy Mundy.) (A hit forFrank Sinatra.)
• "Every Step of the Way"
• "The Great Escape March"
• "Happy Anniversary"
• "I Believe"(1952) (written withErvin Drake,Irvin Graham,andJimmy Shirl) (a hit forJane Froman,Frankie Laine,and recorded by many others, includingPerry Como,Barbra Streisand,Cissy Houston,andElvis Presley.)
• "If Dreams Come True"
• "I Love You and Don’t You Forget It"(1963) (music byHenry Mancini) (A hit forPerry Como.)
• "Jukebox Saturday Night"(1942) (music by Paul McGrane) (A hit for theGlenn MillerOrchestraand thePied Pipersvocal group.)
• "The Little Boy"
• "Little Jack Frost Get Lost"(written with Seger Ellis [1904-95])
• "Mama Yo Quiero"(written with Jararaca and Vincente Paiva.) (A hit for theXavier CugatOrchestra and others.)
• "Meantime"
• "An Old Flame Never Dies"
• "One, Two, Three, Kick"
• "A Room with a View"
• "Song About Love"
• "Taboo"
• "Tell Me That You Love Me Tonight"
• "There's Nothing I Can Say"
• "Truly, Truly True"
• "When I Am With You",(music byBenjamin Weisman.) (A hit forJohnny Mathis.)
• "You and I Know"
• "Turn Off the Moon"(sung bySue Lyon,music by Bob Harris.)
• "Copacabana"

Stage shows with scores by Stillman

• Howdy
• Icetime of 1948
• It Happens on Ice
• Mr. Ice
• Stars on Ice
• Virginia

Movies to which Stillman contributed songs

• The Cardinal
• Captains of the Clouds(1942) (Was uncredited, but wrote the song "Bless Em All")
• Carnival in Costa Rica(1947) (Wrote the songs "Costa Rica"and"Say Si Si")
• I'll Cry Tomorrow(1955) (Film used his song "Cui Cui,"originally written forThe Long, Long Trailer.)
• Lizzie(1957) (Composed the song "It's Not For Me To Say")
• The Long, Long Trailer(1954) (Composed the song "Cui Cui")
• The FBI Story(1959) (Composed the song "What Do I Care?" )

Family

Stillman, on September 29, 1939, married Pauline Reinfmann(néePatia Reinfmann aka Kaufman; 1906–1990) inFort Lee, New Jersey.She was born in Russia and became a U.S. naturalized citizen March 22, 1943, in theU.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.Pauline's sister, Anna "Billie" Swan(néeAnna Kaufman; 1905–1992), married, on August 7, 1925, inManhattantoEinar Aaron Swan(1903–1940), an arranger and composer.

External links

• Al Stillmanat theSongwriters Hall of Fame