American Songbook Blogs

December 1, 1896: American songwriter Ray Henderson was born on this date in 1896! He was one third of a successful songwriting and music publishing team with Lew Brown and Buddy DeSylva from 1925 through 1930, responsible for several editions of the revue called George White’s Scandals and such book musicals as Good News, Hold Everything!, and Follow Thru. Henderson’s biggest hit songs included “Annabelle” (both 1923), “Bye Bye Blackbird”, “Has Anybody Seen My Girl?” (a/k/a “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue”), “I’m Sitting on Top of the World” (all 1925), “The Birth of the Blues” (1926), “The Varsity Drag” (1927), “You’re The Cream In My Coffee” (1928), “Button Up Your Overcoat”, “You Are My Lucky Star” “I’m A Dreamer, Aren’t We All”, “Keep Your Sunny Side Up” (1929), “The Thrill Is Gone”, and “Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries” (1931).