Al Stillman

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Al Stillman (June 26, 1906 – 1979) was an American lyricist.

Biography

Stillman was born in New York City. His name was originally Albert Silverman, but changed it to that of a well-known New York banking family^{[citation needed]}. He was Jewish.^[1] He attended New York University. After graduation, he contributed to Franklin P. Adams' newspaper column, and in 1933 became a staff writer at Radio City Music Hall, a position he held for almost 40 years.

Stillman collaborated with a number of composers: Fred Ahlert, Robert Allen, Percy Faith, George Gershwin, Ernesto Lecuona, Paul McGrane, Kay Swift, and Arthur Schwartz. Many of his collaborations with Allen were major hits in the 1950s for The Four Lads; the Stillman/Allen team also wrote hit songs for Perry Como and Johnny Mathis.

Stillman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1982.

Songs for which Stillman wrote lyrics

Music by Robert Allen

Perry Como hits

• "Home for the Holidays" (1954) (Still played during the Christmas holiday.)
• "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 with Francia Luban)
• "You're the One" as recorded by Kathy Kirby in 1964

Others

• "Air Cadet Song (music by Louis E.De Francesco, 1944 (published by Sam Fox Pub Co. NY NY)
• "And That Reminds Me" (or "My Heart Reminds Me") (written with Camillo Bargoni, Dante Panzuti, and Paul Siegel.) (A hit for singers Vicki Carr, Kay Starr, Julie London, Della Reese, Dean Martin, among others.)
• "Baby, Don'cha Go 'Way Mad" (music by Jimmy Mundy.) (A hit for Frank Sinatra.)
• "Bless 'em All" (with Fred Godfrey, Frank Kerslake, and James Lally) (a World War II song)
• "Can You Find It in Your Heart"
• "Every Step of the Way"
• "The Great Escape March"
• "Happy Anniversary"
• "I Believe" (1952) (written with Ervin M. Drake, Irvin Graham, and Jimmy Shirl) (a hit for Frankie Laine, also recorded by many others, including Perry Como)
• "If Dreams Come True"
• "I Love You and Don’t You Forget It" (1963) (music by Henry Mancini) (A hit for Perry Como.)
• "Jukebox Saturday Night" (1942) (music by Paul McGrane) (A hit for the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Pied Pipers vocal group.)
• "The Little Boy"
• "Mama Yo Quiero" (written with Jararaca and Vincente Paiva.) (A hit for the Xavier Cugat Orchestra 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 by Benjamin Weisman.) (A hit for Johnny Mathis.)
• "You and I Know"
• "Turn Off the Moon" (sung by Sue Lyon, music by Bob Harris.)

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 for The 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")

Footnotes

External links

• Al Stillman at the Songwriters Hall of Fame