Carl Sigman

Carl Sigman (September 24, 1909 – September 26, 2000) was a major American songwriter.

Biography

Born in Brooklyn, New York, he graduated from law school and passed his Bar exams to practice in the state of New York. Instead of law, encouraged by his friend Johnny Mercer, he embarked on a songwriting career that saw him become one of the most prominent and successful in American music history. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his efforts in Africa during the 2nd World War.

Career

Although Sigman wrote many song melodies, he was primarily a lyricist who collaborated with songwriters such as Bob Hilliard and Duke Ellington.

He also wrote English language lyrics to many songs which were originally composed in other languages, such as Answer Me, Till, The Day The Rains Came and What Now My Love. During the big band era he composed works used by top band leaders such as Glenn Miller and Guy Lombardo. His songs were also hits for individual singing stars. Some of the best known include My Heart Cries For You, which was recorded by three different artists in 1951: Dinah Shore, Guy Mitchell and Vic Damone. Two years later Sigman's song Ebb Tide was a top hit for Frank Chacksfield and was a Billboard Top Ten hit in 1965 for the Righteous Brothers.

Tommy Edwards scored a No. 1 hit in 1958 with It's All In The Game, with lyrics by Sigman set to music the future Vice President Charles Gates Dawes had composed in 1912. He is most widely remembered for writing the lyrics for Where Do I Begin, the theme song for Love Story, the top grossing film of 1970. The song became a major hit record for crooner Andy Williams.

In 1972 Carl Sigman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Published songs

• "A Marshmallow World" (collaboration with Peter deRose)
• "Arrivederci Roma"
• "The All American Soldier"
• "All Too Soon" (collaboration with Duke Ellington)
• "Answer Me"
• "Ballerina"
• "Buona Sera"
• "Careless Hands"
• "Civilization"
• "Crazy He Calls Me" (collaboration with Bob Russell)
• "A Day In The Life Of A Fool"
• "The Day The Rains Came" (1957)
• "Ebb Tide"
• "Enjoy Yourself" (1948)
• "Fool"
• "If You Could See Me Now" (collaboration with Tadd Dameron)
• "It's All In The Game"
• "Music From Across The Way"
• "My Heart Cries For You"
• "Pennsylvania 6-5000" (collaboration with Glenn Miller)
• "The Saddest Thing Of All"
• "Shangri-La"
• "Till"
• "What Now My Love"
• "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story"
• "The World We Knew (Over and Over)"
• "You're My World"

References

External links

• Bio at JazzBiographies.com
• Carl Sigman official Web site
• Interview with Sigman's son about his father
• SHoF page on Sigman

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