Jack Selig Yellen (Jacek Jeleń; July 6, 1892 – April 17, 1991) was an American lyricist and screenwriter. He is best remembered for writing the lyrics to the songs "Happy Days Are Here Again", which was used by Franklin Roosevelt as the theme song for his successful 1932 presidential campaign, and "Ain't She Sweet", a Tin Pan Alley standard.
Early life and education
Born to a Jewish family in Raczki, Congress Poland, then part of the Russian Empire, Yellen emigrated with his family to the United States when he was five years old. His parents were Abram and Bessie Yellen. The oldest of seven children, he was raised in Buffalo, New York, and began writing songs in high school. He graduated with honors from the University of Michigan in 1913 where he was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.
After graduating he became a reporter for the Buffalo Courier, continuing to write songs on the side.
Career
Yellen's first collaborator on a song was George L. Cobb, with whom he wrote a number of Dixie songs including "Alabama Jubilee", "Are You From Dixie?", and "All Aboard for Dixieland". He is best remembered for his collaboration with composer Milton Ager. He and Ager entered the music publishing business as part owners of the Ager-Yellen-Bornstein Music Company. Yellen also worked with many other composers such as Sammy Fain and Harold Arlen.
Yellen's collaboration with vaudeville star, Sophie Tucker, for whom he was retained to write special material, produced one of Tucker's most well known songs, "My Yiddishe Momme", a song in English with some Yiddish text. Yellen wrote the lyrics which were set to music by Lew Pollack.
Yellen wrote the lyrics to more than 200 popular songs of the early 20th century. Two of his most recognized songs, still popular in the 21st century, are "Happy Days Are Here Again" and "Ain't She Sweet".
Yellen's screenwriting credits included:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Title
!Year
!Role
|-
|George White's Scandals
|1934
|Music composition and additional dialogue
|-
|Pigskin Parade
|1936
|Co-writer
|-
|Little Miss Broadway
|1938
|Co-writer
|-
|Submarine Patrol
|1938
|Co-writer
|}
Awards and legacy
Yellen was one of the earliest members of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and served on its board of directors from 1951 to 1969. In 1972 he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 1996.
The foundation created by Yellen and his second wife, The Lucille and Jack Yellen Foundation, established the ASCAP Foundation Lucille and Jack Yellen Award, an annual award for "aspiring musical theater lyricist or film scorer who exemplifies talent and career potential".
Personal life
In August 1922, Yellen married 21 year old Sylvia Stiller of Buffalo. They had two children, David and Beth. The Yellens lived for many years on a farm on Mortons Corners Road in the town of Concord, New York. Jack Yellen died April 17, 1991, in Concord at the age of 98.
Broadway musicals
Film scores
Selected songs
- "Alabama Jubilee" – 1915
- "Are You from Dixie ('Cause I'm from Dixie Too)" – 1915
- "Dancing 'Round the U.S.A" - 1915
- "There's a Garden in Hawaii" with music by George B. McConnell – 1917
- "The Battle Song of Liberty" - 1917. m: George L. Cobb
- "So Long Sammy" - 1917. m: Albert Gumble