Grant Clarke

Grant Clarke (May 14, 1891, Akron, Ohio - May 16, 1931, California) was an American songwriter.

Clarke moved to New York City early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians. He began working on Tin Pan Alley, where he contributed music to films such as "The Jazz Singer", "Weary River", "On With the Show", and "Is Everybody Happy?". He wrote the lyrics to the show "Dixie to Broadway", and also contributed to the 1921 "Ziegfield Follies" and "Bombo". Later in his career he became a charter member of ASCAP and was successful in the music publishing business.

Clarke was the author of the lyrics to many popular songs of the 1910s and 1920s, working with composers such as George W. Meyer, Harry Akst, James Monaco, Al Piantodosi, Fre Fisher, Harry Warren, Arthur Johnson, James Hanley, Lewis Muir and Milton Ager. His songs include “Dat’s Harmony”, “Ragtime Cowboy Joe”, “He’d Have to Get Under”, “When You’re in Love With Someone”, “In the Land of Beginning Again”, “Everything is Peaches Down in Georgia”, “Second Hand Rose”, “Oogie Oogie Wa Wa”, “Dirty Hands, Dirty Face” and “I’m a Little Blackbird Looking for a Bluebird.”.

References

* [http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/notable_bio.asp?notableWriterId=11 Biography] at Songwriters Hall of Fame