- Nacio Herb Brown
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Nacio Herb Brown Birth name Ignacio Herb Brown Born February 22, 1896 Origin Deming, New Mexico, United States Died September 28, 1964 (aged 68)
San Francisco, California, United StatesOccupations Composer, songwriter Nacio Herb Brown (February 22, 1896 – September 28, 1964) was an American writer of popular songs, movie scores, and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s.
Contents
Biography
Ignacio Herb Brown (some sources indicate his birth name was Ignacio Herbert Brown) was born in Deming, New Mexico. In 1901 his family moved to Los Angeles, where he attended Manual Arts High School. His music education started with instruction from his mother, Cora Alice (Hopkins) Brown. Brown first operated a tailoring business (1916), and then became a financially successful realtor, but he always wrote and played. After his first hit "Coral Sea" (1920) and first big hit, "When Buddha Smiles" (1921), he eventually became a full-time composer. He joined The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1927.
In 1928 he was hired to work in Hollywood by MGM and write movie music for the new medium of sound film. For his film work, he often collaborated with lyricist Arthur Freed. This collaboration produced Singin' in the Rain. He appeared in the MGM variety film The Hollywood Revue of 1929. Brown also worked with Richard A. Whiting and Buddy De Sylva on Broadway Musicals such as Take a Chance.[citation needed]
Along with L. Wolfe Gilbert, Nacio wrote the music for the popular children's Television Western, Hopalong Cassidy which first aired in 1949.[citation needed]
Nacio Herb Brown died in San Francisco, California, aged 68. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
Personal life
Brown was married five times, each ending in divorce. His first was Ruby Porter with whom he had one child, followed by a marriage to Jeanne Lochart. In the 1930s he was briefly married to actress Anita Page. This marriage was followed by another brief marriage, to Beffie Kellogg. Brown's final marriage was to Georgeann Morris, with whom he had two children.[citation needed]
Published songs and music
- All I Do Is Dream of You
- American Bolero
- Avalon Town
- Broadway Melody
- Broadway Rhythm
- Doll Dance
- Eadie Was a Lady
- I've Got a Feelin’ You’re Foolin'
- Love Is Where You Find It
- A New Moon Is Over My Shoulder
- Make 'Em Laugh
- Our Big Love Scene
- Pagan Love Song
- Paradise (1931)
- Singin' in the Rain
- Sweetheart Darlin'
- Temptation
- Wedding of the Painted Doll
- When Buddha Smiles (1921)
- You Are My Lucky Star
- You Stepped Out of a Dream
External links
Categories:- 1896 births
- 1964 deaths
- American musicians
- Songwriters from New Mexico
- Burials at Inglewood Park Cemetery
- People from San Francisco, California
- Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees
- Vaudeville performers
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