Songwriters Hall of Fame

Ervin Drake

Composer and lyricist Ervin Drake had a remarkably varied career, including extensive work as a producer in television and significant activism on behalf of songwriters.

He was born Ervin Maurice Druckman in New York City on April 3, 1919. He attended Townsend Harris Hall, and then the City…

Stevie Wonder

STEVIE WONDER b. Steveland Judkins, 13 May 1950, Saginaw, Michigan, USA. Born Judkins, Wonder now prefers to be known as Steveland Morris after his mother's married name. Placed in an incubator immediately after his birth, baby Steveland was given too much oxygen, causing Steveland to suffer permanent blindness. Despite this…

Harry Akst

Harry Akst was born in New York City on August 15, 1894 beginning a career that would prove him one of the most prolific composers of the era and an accomplished pianist and conductor. His early career was as a pianist and accompanist, for 4 years he was beside Nora…

Ralph Blane

As the composer half of “Martin and Blane", Ralph Blane has had one of the most successful songwriting teams from late Tin Pan Alley. Blane has created the timeless melodies such standards as “Buckle Down, Winsocki”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Girls Were Made To Take Care of…

Alec Wilder

Alec Wilder was born Alexander Lafayette Chew Wilder in Rochester, New York on February 16, 1907, the son of a prominent Rochester banker. He studied for a time at the Eastman School of Music, but was for the most part Wilder was a self taught musician. He moved to New…

Harry Tobias

Lyricist Harry Tobias was born in New York City on September 11, 1895. He grew up in Worchester, Massachusetts with brothers Charles and Henry, also songwriters.

Harry began writing songs in 1911, at the age of 16. As he recalled in Henry Tobias’ autobiography, “Music in My Heart…

Neil Sedaka

Neil Sedaka was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 13, 1939. He was a piano prodigy as a child and later attended the Julliard School of Music.

In 1956, he was seleceted by Arthur Rubenstein to perform on New York City’s classical music station, WQXR. However, prior…

Fred Ebb

Fred Ebb, the lyricist half of the legendary songwriting team, Kander and Ebb that has produced Cabaret, Woman of the Year, The Act and, of course the incomparable Chicago was born in New York City, NY on April 8, 1935.

His lifelong love of the theater began while…

John Kander

John Kander, the composer half of the legendary songwriting team, Kander and Ebb that has produced Cabaret, Woman of the Year, The Act and the incomparable Chicago, was born in Kansas City, Missouri on March 18, 1927.

Kander began studying music as a child and in his early…

Hugh Martin

Hugh Martin was born in Birmingham, Alabama on August 11, 1914, and began studying music at the age 5 at the Birmingham Conservatory of Music. He attended Birmingham. Southern College and his original intention was to be a classical musician, but he had fallen in love with George Gershwin's songs,…

Bob Hilliard

Lyricist Bob Hilliard was born in New York City on January 28, 1918.

After attending New York City public schools, Hilliard began work as a lyricist on Tin Pan Alley. Beginning in the 1930’s through the 1950’s, Hilliard produced such hits as “The Coffee Song”, “The Big Brass…