Al Dubin

Biography

In tandem with composer Harry Warren, lyricist Al Dubin enjoyed a remarkable run of hits throughout the 1930s, authoring standards like "We're in the Money," "I Only Have Eyes for You," and "Lullaby of Broadway." Alexander Dubin was born June 10, 1891, in Zurich, Switzerland, but raised primarily in Philadelphia, PA; he briefly attended medical school but was expelled in 1911, soon after moving to New York to pursue a career as a songwriter. Although World War I forced him to put his career on hold, he returned from battle with the idea of writing new lyrics for popular instrumental themes, scoring hits with versions of Dvorak's "Humoresque" and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Song of India." As the 1920s came to a close, Dubin settled in Hollywood, teaming with composer Joe Burke to author a series of hits including "Tip-Toe Through the Tulips," "Painting the Clouds With Sunshine," "Love Will Find a Way," and "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes." During the following decade, he joined forces with Harry Warren to score film musicals like 42nd Street, Footlight Parade, and a number of The Gold Diggers pictures; during their five-year partnership, the duo launched an impressive series of popular favorites which also includes "You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me," "The Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "Young and Healthy," "With Plenty of Money and You," and "Love Is Where You Find It." Apart from Warren, Dubin also collaborated with composers including Victor Herbert ("Indian Summer"), Will Grosz ("Along the Santa Fe Trail"), and Duke Ellington ("I Never Felt This Way Before"). Years of hard living began taking their toll, however, and after suffering years of poor health Dubin died on February 11, 1945. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi