Harold Arlen

Harold Arlen (1905–1986) was one of the most significant American composers of the 20th century, best remembered for his enduring contributions to the Great American Songbook and Broadway stage. Born Hyman Arluck in Buffalo, New York, Arlen was the son of a cantor and grew up immersed in Jewish liturgical music, which helped shape his deep sense of melody and harmony. His early love of jazz and blues led him into the world of popular music, where he quickly established himself as a gifted pianist, arranger, and songwriter. After moving to New York City in the 1920s, he began working in Harlem’s vibrant music scene and gained recognition for his work with the Cotton Club revues, writing songs for greats like Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington.

Arlen’s songwriting career blossomed during the 1930s and 1940s, when he partnered with lyricists such as Ted Koehler, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, and Johnny Mercer. With Koehler, he produced hit songs like “Stormy Weather” and “I’ve Got the World on a String.” His collaboration with Harburg yielded his most famous work: the score for The Wizard of Oz (1939), which included the Academy Award–winning “Over the Rainbow,” later immortalized by Judy Garland. His partnership with Mercer produced jazz standards like “Blues in the Night,” “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road),” and “That Old Black Magic.” These songs captured both the sophistication and emotional depth that characterized his style.

Although Arlen is best known for his work in film and popular song, he also had a significant impact on Broadway and musical theatre. In 1957, he composed the score for Jamaica, a musical with lyrics by Harburg and starring Lena Horne. The show, set on a small Caribbean island, blended calypso-infused melodies with Broadway sensibilities and received seven Tony Award nominations. While Jamaica did not achieve the iconic status of some of Arlen’s earlier works, it showcased his versatility as a composer and his ability to adapt to contemporary musical trends.

Arlen’s music was often praised for its harmonic richness and its unique blending of blues and jazz idioms with traditional popular songwriting. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he was less prolific, but his output was consistently innovative and enduring. His melodies carried a wistful, yearning quality, and he had a gift for balancing sophistication with accessibility. Singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday frequently recorded his works, further cementing his legacy in American music.

In his later years, Arlen continued to compose, though with less frequency, as his reputation was already firmly established. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971 and is today remembered as one of the great architects of American song. Harold Arlen’s body of work—including Broadway scores like Jamaica, Hollywood classics, and beloved standards—has left a lasting imprint on both theatre and popular culture, ensuring his place among the most influential composers of the 20th century.