Arthur Hamilton Stern (October 22, 1926 – May 20, 2025) was an American songwriter. He is best known for the song "Cry Me a River", first published in 1953 and recorded by Julie London and numerous other artists.
Life and career Arthur "Art" Stern was born in Seattle, Washington on October 22, 1926,Stern, Arthur “Art”, Mar-Ken.org. Retrieved January 14, 2016 the son of songwriter and comedian Jacob Abraham "Jack" Stern (1896–1985) and Grace Hamilton Stern Leet (1883–1953). He moved as an infant with his family to Hollywood, California. He learned piano as a child, and also studied music theory and counterpoint.
He later began using the name Arthur Hamilton. In 1949 he wrote an early live television musical for KTTV in Los Angeles, California. He also worked for a music publishing company. In 1953, when under contract to Jack Webb,Letter from Arthur Hamilton, TheMusicEdge.com, archived. Retrieved January 14, 2016 he contributed three songs to the film Pete Kelly's Blues, including "Sing A Rainbow" and "He Needs Me", sung by Peggy Lee. However, Hamilton's third song, "Cry Me a River", sung by Ella Fitzgerald, was dropped from the film, although Ella did go on to record it later in her career. The song's first release and most famous recording was by actress and singer Julie London – who had been Jack Webb's wife "How London Found Path to "River"", Billboard, 11 November 2000, p.45 – in 1955. Her performance of the song in the 1956 film The Girl Can't Help It helped to make it a million-selling hit, reaching number 9 in the U.S. Billboard chart and number 22 in the UK singles chart. The song, which was also covered by Joe Cocker in 1970, contains the lyric: 'told me love was too plebeian, told me you were through with me 'n...'. In 2010, Hamilton attended a recording session at Capitol Records in Los Angeles, where the song was performed by Michael Bublé.John Berlau, "Crying a River for Years", The Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2016
His compositions have been recorded by Dinah Washington, Archie Shepp, Harry Connick Jr., Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Diana Krall, The Dells (whose version of "Sing a Rainbow" was an international hit in 1969), and others. On many occasions, Hamilton worked exclusively as a lyricist; his long list of collaborators includes such composers as Walter Jurmann,Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" & "Jurmann". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Armando Manzanero,Renewal registration for "Never Tell Me". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Jerry Fielding,Ace Repertory Database . ASCAP. Retrieved August 2, 2013. (Search for title "Holding It Together" within database.) Johnny Mandel,Renewal registration for "I Never Told You". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Michel Legrand,Registration for sound recording of "Time" (lyric version of "Love Theme from 'Gable and Lombard'"). US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. David Raksin,Renewal registration for "Some Days Seemed So Beautiful". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Robert Ragland,Ace Repertory Database . ASCAP. Retrieved August 2, 2013. (Search for title "Only a Dream Away" within database, and scroll to title no. 3.) Riz Ortolani,Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" & "Ortolani". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Terry Trotter,Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" & "Terry Trotter". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Lori Barth,Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" & "Lori Barth". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Barry Mann,Registration for "The Best I Ever Was". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Dave Grusin,Sheet music for "You Tell Yourself". Photobucket. Retrieved August 2, 2013Guide to the Dave Grusin Collection (Box 1, fd. 19) . University of Colorado at Boulder. Retrieved August 2, 2013. (Scroll all the way to the bottom.) Walter Scharf,Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" & "Walter Scharf". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Joe Harnell,Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" & "Joe Harnell". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Leroy Holmes,Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" "Leroy Holmes". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Harriet Schock,Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" & "Harriet Schock". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Ron Anthony,Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" & "Ron Anthony". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. and Patrick Williams.Search results for "Arthur Hamilton" & "Patrick Williams". US Copyright Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Hamilton was also nominated for an Oscar, two Emmys, and a Golden Globe.
He was a member of the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Music Branch), and a member of the board of the ASCAP Foundation. "About The ASCAP Foundation". Retrieved 7 March 2020
Hamilton died at his home in Los Angeles, on May 20, 2025, at the age of 98.
References
External links
Arthur Hamilton, TheMusicEdge.com