Ira Schuster (October 13, 1889 – October 10, 1946[1]) was an American songwriter, who worked as a pianist at various publishing companies on Tin Pan Alley in the early 20th century.[2] He was also known as John Siras.[3]
Biography[edit]
He was born in New York City on October 13, 1889, to Sarah and Morris Schuster. His father was from Germany and his mother from England. He had a brother, Joseph Schuster (vaudeville).[4] Schuster married Minnie and had two children, Wallace Schuster and Phoebe Schuster.
Schuster collaborated with other notable songwriters of the time, and had a string of hits in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s. Schuster was also one of the first songwriters to form his own publishing company.[2] His best known songs include "Hold Me," "In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town,"[5] "Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes," "I Am an American," "Go Home and Tell Your Mother," "Any Day Now,"[6] "I'm Alone Because I Love You"[7] and "Let’s Grow Old Together."[2]
Schuster died in New York, aged 55, in October 1946.[1]
Legacy[edit]
He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[2]
Songs[edit]
- A Shanty in Old Shanty Town (1932)
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Ira Schuster, 57, Popular Lyricist; Song Writer Who Composed 'I Am an American' Is Dead -- 'Shantytown' His Big Hit". The New York Times. October 11, 1946. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
- ^ a b c d "Notable Writers - Ira Schuster". Songwriters Hall of Fame. 1945-10-10. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
- ^ "Schuster, Ira (1889-1945) - People and organisations - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
- ^ "Joseph Schuster, Music Publisher. Song Writer, Ex-Vaudeville and Radio Performer Dies. Teamed With Tucker". The New York Times. June 11, 1959. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
- ^ "Recording: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town - Ted Lewis and His Band". Second Hand Songs. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
- ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions - Google Books. 1945-01-23. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
- ^ "I'm Alone Because I Love You - Nat King Cole : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
External links[edit]
- Songwriters Hall of Fame entry
- Allmusic.com
- Ira Schuster at IMDb
- Ira Schuster recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.
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