Harry Warren

Harry Warren, born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna on December 24, 1893, in Brooklyn, New York, was one of America’s most prolific and successful composers of the 20th century. The son of Italian immigrants, he taught himself to play several instruments as a child and later worked as a drummer and pianist in silent movie theaters. He changed his name to Harry Warren early in his career and began composing songs for Tin Pan Alley, eventually moving into film work where he would leave a lasting mark on American popular music.

Warren’s big break came in the 1930s when he began writing for Warner Bros. musicals. He teamed up with lyricist Al Dubin to create the score for 42nd Street (1933), one of the first major movie musicals and a defining moment in Hollywood’s Golden Age. The film featured hit songs like “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” and the iconic title number “42nd Street.” The show-stopping style and melodic brilliance of Warren’s compositions helped elevate film musicals to a new level of popularity.

Throughout his career, Warren wrote over 800 songs, including classics like “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “I Only Have Eyes for You,” “At Last,” “That’s Amore,” and “Lullaby of Broadway,” which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He won three Oscars in total and received 11 nominations, becoming the first major American songwriter to consistently write music directly for the movies rather than the Broadway stage.

Although his name was less well known to the public than some of his contemporaries, Warren was widely respected in the industry for his incredible versatility and craftsmanship. He collaborated with many top lyricists, including Johnny Mercer, Mack Gordon, and Ira Gershwin, and wrote for stars like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Doris Day. His music spanned genres from swing and jazz to ballads and show tunes, making him a key architect of the Great American Songbook.

Harry Warren passed away on September 22, 1981, at the age of 87. While he never achieved the household-name status of composers like Irving Berlin or George Gershwin, his songs have endured through decades of performances, recordings, and revivals. The 1980 Broadway adaptation of 42nd Street brought his work back into the spotlight, introducing new generations to his unforgettable melodies and reaffirming his legacy as one of the greatest songwriters in American musical history.