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John Frederick Coots

 
Artist: J. Fred Coots
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Formal Connection With:

Haven Gillespie, Sam M. Lewis, Nick Kenny, Kim Gannon
  • Born: May 02, 1897, Brooklyn, NY
  • Died: April 08, 1985, New York, NY
  • Active: '20s, '30s
  • Genres: Vocal Music
  • Instrument: Composer

Biography

J. Fred Coots is the pop composer responsible for "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and many other hits of the late '20s and '30s. In the following decades, his songs were periodically revived by the likes of Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, and more. Born May 2, 1897, in Brooklyn, NY, the songwriter got his first break with 1928's "Doin' the Raccoon." Hal Kemp & His Orchestra recorded "I Still Get a Thrill Thinking of You" in 1930; this was a song Shore would cover 20 years later. Coots then collaborated with Nick and Charles Kenny to write "Love Letters in the Sand," which did well in 1931 and was revived by Pat Boone's 1957 cover, as well as his performance of it in the movie Bernardine. Three years after penning "Love Letters in the Sand," Coots wrote "For All We Know" with lyricist Sam M. Lewis and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" with lyricist Haven Gillespie. The latter was first introduced by Eddie Cantor on the radio and went on to be recorded by Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, Ozzie Nelson, and Tommy Dorsey. It was also Coots' biggest seller in sheet music, with over four million copies sold. Coots and Gillespie teamed up again to write the successful follow-ups "A Beautiful Lady in Blue" (1935) and "You Go to My Head" (1938). Originally sung by Bea Wain with Larry Clinton, "A Beautiful Lady in Blue" also went on to be recorded by many artists. ~ Joslyn Layne, All Music Guide
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Actor: J. Fred Coots
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Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: May 02, 1897
  • Active: '20s, '40s-'50s, '70s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Children's/Family
  • Career Highlights: She Gets Her Man, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Bernardine
  • First Major Screen Credit: Why Be Good? (1929)

Biography

Songwriter J. Fred Coots composed for both stage and screen. One of his best -known songs is Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town. A self-taught musician, Coots wrote his first song as a teen and went on to become a vaudeville accompanist and then a song promoter. In 1992 he composed the libretto for the Broadway show Sally, Irene and Mary. He was also contracted to work with theater magnates J.J. and Lee Shubert as a songwriter for their musicals during the '20s. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Wikipedia: John Frederick Coots
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John Frederick Coots
Birth name John Frederick Coots
Also known as J. Frederick Coots
Born May 2, 1897(1897-05-02)
Origin Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
Died April 8, 1985 (aged 87)
New York City, U.S.A.
Occupation(s) Composer
Associated acts Haven Gillespie

John Frederick Coots (May 2, 1897 – April 8, 1985) was an American songwriter. He wrote over 700 songs.

He is most famous for the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history.

Among his songs are:

He wrote the first three songs with the lyricist Haven Gillespie. "Louisiana Fairy Tale" was also written with Mitchell Parish and was the first theme song for the PBS production of This Old House. "For All We Know" was written with lyricist Sam M. Lewis.

In 1934 when Gillespie brought him the lyrics to "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Coots came up with the skeleton of the music in just ten minutes. Later when Coots brought the song to his publisher, Leo Feist Inc., they liked it but thought it was a kids' song and did not expect too much from it.

Coots offered the song to Eddie Cantor who used it on his radio show that November and it became an instant hit. The morning after the radio show there were orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music, and, by Christmas, sales had passed 400,000.

Timeline - J. Fred Coots

References

  • The Story of the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
  • December 1956 issue of "The Kiwanis Magazine"
  • Claus alert!

External links

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Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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