Jimmie Crane (1910–1998; born Loreto Domenic Fraieli) was an American songwriter and business owner from Providence, Rhode Island. He is known for composing songs performed by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, Liberace, Doris Day, and Elvis Presley.
Biography Crane was born on August 1, 1910, as Loreto Fraieli.ASCAP, 4th ed. Crane's career as a songwriter began when "It's Great To Be An American," a song written by Crane and Ray Muffs became part of Glenn Miller and his Orchestra's repertoire in 1941. In the late 1940s, Crane met songwriter Al Jacobs, and they became a songwriting team. Their songs began to gain popularity with Tommy Mara's recording "I'll Try" and "Bella Mia," with "Bella Mia" being their first charting song in 1953.
In 1954, their popular song "If I Give My Heart to You", written with Milt Gabler, was recorded by Connee Boswell. Denise Lor and Doris Day followed with their own renditions that year. The song would later be recorded by Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington, Kitty Kallen, and Nat King Cole, among others. That year, "I Need You Now", also written by Jimmie Crane and Al Jacobs, was recorded by Eddie Fisher and reached #1 on the Billboard and Cash Box charts on November 3, 1954. The song was also featured on Your Hit Parade. Crane and Jacobs' song "Hurt" was first recorded by Roy Hamilton in 1954 and gained popularity on the R&B Charts. The song would be covered most popularly by Timi Yuro and enter the Billboard Top 100. Elvis Presley covered "Hurt" shortly before his death. Among others, Bobby Vinton, Peabo Bryson, Liberace, and Carly Simon recorded versions of the song."The Year in Music: THE YEAR IN MUSIC'1998 - PASSINGS." Billboard (Archive: 1963-2000), vol. 110, no. 52, Dec 26, 1998. ."Update: LIFELINES - DEATHS." Billboard (Archive: 1963-2000), vol. 110, no. 33, Aug 15, 1998, pp. 47. .
During his career as a songwriter, Crane also started and managed a jewelry company, Colonial Novelty, in Providence, Rhode Island. Crane was convicted of federal income tax evasion involving Colonial Novelty in 1976. Crane continued writing music throughout his life. He died in 1998.
Awards
1982 - Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame 1987 - ASCAP Most Performed Country Songs"Country: ASCAP Toasts Loggins, MCA, & Others at Awards." Billboard (Archive: 1963-2000), vol. 99, no. 43, Oct 24, 1987, pp. 43-43, 116. . 2013 - Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame
Selected discography + Charting singles written by Jimmie CraneYearSongArtistChartWriters1971"Bella Mia"Tommy Mara#71 (1 week)Crane, Jacobs1960"Come Back"Jimmy Clanton#60 (9 weeks, Music Vendor/Record World)Crane, Phil Tucker1956"Every Day of My Life"The McGuire Sisters#26 (1 week, MV/RW)Crane, Jacobs1972Bobby Vinton#13 (16 weeks, MV/RW)1954"Hurt"Roy Hamilton#8 (7 weeks, R&B MV/RW); #71 (9 weeks MV/RW)Crane, Jacobs1961Timi Yuro#4 (12 weeks, MV/RW) & #3 (13 weeks, MV)1966Little Anthony and the Imperials#51 (6 weeks, Billboard)1975The Manhattans#70 (6 weeks, Cash Box)Connie Cato#14 (14 weeks, Billboard Country & Western)1976Elvis Presley#28 (11 weeks, Billboard)1959"I Can't Get You Out of My Heart"Al Martino#25 (20 weeks, MV/RW)Crane, Daniel DiMinno1964#99 (2 weeks, Billboard)1960"I Can't Say Goodbye"The Fireflies#49 (11 weeks Cash Box)Crane, Phil Tucker, Paul DeMaya1954"I Need You Now""Music-Radio: HONOR ROLL OF HITS." The Billboard (Archive: 1894-1960), vol. 66, no. 49, Dec 04, 1954, pp. 34. .Eddie Fisher (singer)#1 (23 weeks, Billboard)Crane, Jacobs1960Joni James#98 (1 week, Billboard)1969Ronnie Dove#90 (4 weeks MV/RW)1954"If I Give My Heart To You"Doris Day#1 (15 weeks MV/RW)Jimmie Crane, Al Jacobs, Milt Gabler as Jimmy Brewster1954Denise Lor#13 (14 weeks, Billboard)1954Connee Boswell#20 (5 weeks, Billboard)1959Kitty Kallen#34 (12 weeks, Billboard)1979Margo Smith#10 (13 weeks, Billboard Country & Western)1953"I'll Try"Tommy Mara#67 (1 week, Hot Charts)Crane, Jacobs1955"My Believing Heart"Joni James#34 (13 weeks MV/RW)Crane, Jacobs1959"So Close to my Heart"Kathy Linden#84 (4 weeks, Cash Box)Crane, Jacobs, Tucker This table is based largely on the discography compiled from "The Jimmie Crane Songography" written by Alan "Big Al" Pavlow and Rick Bellaire in honor of Jimmie Crane's 2013 induction into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame.
References