Irving Kahal

• Born: March 05, 1903, Houtzdale, PA
• Died: February 07, 1942, New York, NY
• Active: '20s, '30s
• Genres: Vocal Music
• Instrument: Composer, Lyricist, Songwriter

Biography

Broadway and Hollywood pop lyricist Irving Kahal experienced much success during the late '20s and 1930s. Born in Pennsylvania in 1903, Kahal sang in vaudeville at a young age, then performed for awhile with a troupe led by Gus Edwards. It was during this time that Kahal met vaudevillian songwriter Sammy Fain. From the mid-'20s on, the songwriting duo came up with pop hits for the stage and big screen, with some independent successes as well, including "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella" (1928), "Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine)" (1929), "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me" (1930), "When I Take My Sugar to Tea" (1931), "I Can Dream, Can't I?," and "I'll Be Seeing You" (1938). Their songs were heard in such movie musicals as The Big Pond (1930), Footlight Parade (1933), and Harold Teen (1934). After 17 years, the duo of Kahal and Fain ended with Irving Kahal's death in N.Y.C. in 1942. ~ Joslyn Layne, All Music Guide