Irving Caesar (born Isidor Keiser, July 4, 1895 – December 17, 1996) was an American lyricist and composer primarily for theater who wrote lyrics for numerous song standards, including "Swanee", "Sometimes I'm Happy", "Crazy Rhythm", and "Tea for Two", one of the most frequently recorded tunes ever written. In 1972, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Biography

Caesar, the son of Morris Keiser, a Romanian Jewish lawyer and socialist, was born in New York City, United States. The Caesar brothers spent their childhood and teen years in Yorkville, the same Manhattan neighborhood where the Marx Brothers were raised. Caesar knew the Marx Brothers during his childhood. He was educated at Chappaqua Mountain Institute in Chappaqua, New York.

In his career, Caesar collaborated with a wide variety of composers and songwriters, including Rudolf Friml, George Gershwin, Sigmund Romberg, Victor Herbert, Ted Koehler and Ray Henderson.

  • Sweetheart Time (1926) – co-lyricist
  • Ziegfeld's Revue "No Foolin'" (1926) – revue – co-lyricist
  • Betsy (1926) – co-bookwriter
  • Talk About Girls (1927) – lyricist
  • Here's Howe (1928) – lyricist
  • Americana of 1928 (1928) – revue – co-lyricist
  • Polly (1929) – co-composer and co-lyricist
  • George White's Scandals of 1929 (1929) – revue – co-composer and co-lyricist
  • Ripples (1930) – co-lyricist
  • Nina Rosa (1930) – lyricist
  • The Wonder Bar (1931) – play – co-playwright/adaptor of the original German
  • George White's Scandals of 1931 (1931) – revue – co-bookwriter
  • George White's Music Hall Varieties of 1932 (1932) – revue – co-composer and lyricist
  • Melody (1933) – lyricist
  • Shady Lady (1933) – reviser
  • Continental Varieties (1934) – revue – dialogue-writer
  • The White Horse Inn (1936) – English-version lyricist
  • My Dear Public (1943) – co-composer, co-lyricist, and co-bookwriter

Post-retirement credits:

  • The American Dance Machine (1978) – dance revue – featured lyricist
  • Up in One (1979) – revue – featured songwriter
  • Big Deal (1986) – featured English-version lyricist for "Just a Gigolo"
  • Sally Marr...and her escorts (1994) – play – featured lyricist for "Tea for Two"

References

  • New York Times obituary
  • Irving Caesar recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.