Styne, Jule

orig. Julius Kerwin Stein

born Dec. 31, 1905, London, Eng.

died Sept. 20, 1994, New York, N.Y., U.S.

British-born U.S. songwriter.

Born to Ukrainian Jewish parents, he and his family settled in Chicago, Ill., U.S., in 1912. His first hit song was published in 1926. In the early 1930s he changed his name to avoid confusion with another performer. He moved to Hollywood, Calif., in 1937 to write film musicals. In the 1940s he worked with lyricist Sammy Cahn, writing ballads for Frank Sinatra, the film musical Anchors Aweigh (1945), and the Broadway musical High Button Shoes (1947). He collaborated with other lyricists on musicals such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949), Bells Are Ringing (1956), Gypsy (1959), and Funny Girl (1964). His songs include "Let It Snow," "The Party's Over," and "People."

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▪ 1995

      (JULIUS KERWIN STEIN), U.S. songwriter (b. Dec. 31, 1905, London, England-d. Sept. 20, 1994, New York, N.Y.), composed more than 1,500 songs, many of them showcased in such smash Broadway hits as High Button Shoes (1947), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949; filmed 1953), Peter Pan (1954), Gypsy (1959; filmed 1962), and Funny Girl (1964; filmed 1968), and counted among his prolific output at least 200 enduring songs, including "I Don't Want to Walk Without You," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," and "People." Styne's musical genius was recognized by his parents, who arranged piano lessons and practice sessions on a rented instrument. Though Styne was a prodigy who studied from the age of eight at the Chicago College of Music and performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, his career as a concert pianist was stymied because of his small hand span. He performed in burlesque and jazz clubs, and in 1926 he wrote his first song, "Sunday." He changed his name to avoid being confused with music executive Jules Stein and played with bands fronted by Charlie Spivak and Glenn Miller. After moving to New York City (1934) and then Hollywood (1937), he became a voice coach, notably for Shirley Temple. Styne was a songwriter for Gene Autry and Roy Rogers at Republic Pictures, where he teamed up with Sammy Cahn to compose a string of hits, including "I'll Walk Alone," "Five Minutes More," and "Three Coins in the Fountain," which won them an Academy Award. The two worked together on numerous stage musicals, and they created many songs for Frank Sinatra. Styne collaborated with Frank Loesser on Sweater Girl (1942). On Broadway he also scored hit songs written with lyricists Betty Comden and Adolf Green for such productions as Two on the Aisle (1951) and Bells Are Ringing (1956; filmed 1960). Following the success of his masterpiece, Gypsy, Styne had his last major success with Funny Girl. The Broadway production of Sugar (1972) had moderate success, but The Red Shoes (1993) closed in less than a week. Styne, whose melodies made stars of such leading talents as Carol Channing, Mary Martin, Judy Holliday, Ethel Merman, and Barbra Streisand, was honoured at the 1990 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and was the 1992 recipient of the New Dramatists Lifetime Achievement Award.

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▪ British songwriter

original name  Julius Kerwin Stein  

born Dec. 31, 1905, London, Eng.

died Sept. 20, 1994, New York, N.Y., U.S.

      American songwriter.

      The son of Ukrainian Jewish parents, Stein immigrated with them to the United States in 1912. The family settled in Chicago, and Stein, having displayed musical talent from an early age, studied the piano. He began playing piano in nightclubs and with traveling orchestras, and his first hit song was published in 1926. In the early 1930s he changed his name to Jule Styne to avoid confusion with another musical personality named Jules Stein. He moved to New York City in 1934 and in 1937 to Hollywood, where he wrote scores for film musicals. Styne collaborated with the lyricist Sammy Cahn (Cahn, Sammy) to write popular ballads for Frank Sinatra in the early 1940s, and the two men wrote the film musical Anchors Aweigh (1945) and the Broadway stage musical High Button Shoes (1947). Styne's next Broadway success was Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949; filmed 1953), with lyricist Leo Robin. He contributed six songs to a Broadway revival of Peter Pan (1954). Styne collaborated with Adolf Green and Betty Comden on the musical Bells Are Ringing (1956; filmed 1960) and with lyricist Stephen Sondheim on Gypsy (1959; filmed 1962). His last major success on Broadway was Funny Girl (1964; filmed 1968), written with lyricist Robert Merrill. Sugar (1972) enjoyed a modest success.

      Styne's theatrical music was well suited to the talents of such leading ladies as Carol Channing, Mary Martin, Judy Holliday, Ethel Merman, and Barbra Streisand. He wrote or cowrote more than 1,500 songs.

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