Bob Russell (born Sidney Keith Rosenthal;Sheldon., Sidney (2005). The Other Side of Me. New York: Warner Books. p. 62–63, 65, 68, 104. . "Early one morning, I received a phone call. 'Sidney?' 'Yes.' 'Hi, pal. This is Bob Russell.' Not only was I not his pal, but I had never heard of Bob Russell. Probably a salesman. 'I'm sorry,' I said, 'but I haven't time to—' 'You should've done some songs with Max Rich.' I was startled for a moment. Who could have known? But then I realized who it was. 'Sidney Rosenthal!' 'Bob Russell,' he corrected. 'I'm coming out to Hollywood to see you.' 'Great!' One week later, Bob Russell arrived and moved into the last available room in Gracie's boardinghouse." April 25, 1914 – February 18, 1970The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (1980). ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition New York: R.R. Bowker Company. .) was an American songwriter (mainly lyricist) born in Passaic, New Jersey."Bob Russell Biography" , Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Career Russell attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He worked as an advertising copywriter in New York; for a time, his roommate there was Sidney Sheldon, later a novelist. He turned to writing material for vaudeville acts, and then for film studios, ultimately writing complete scores for two movies: Jack and the Beanstalk and Reach for Glory. The latter film received the Locarno International Film Festival prize in 1962. A number of other movies featured compositions by Russell, including Affair in Trinidad (1952), Blue Gardenia (1953), The Girl Can't Help It (1956), The Girl Most Likely (1957), A Matter of WHO (1961), Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1952), Sound Off (1952), That Midnight Kiss (1949), and A Ticket to Tomahawk (1950)."Bob Russell (II) (1914–1970)", IMDb. In the movies The Girl Most Likely, Blue Gardenia and Matter of WHO, Russell's compositions included the title songs.
In 1968, Russell along with songwriting partner Quincy Jones was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category ("The Eyes of Love" for the film Banning). The following year, he and Jones were again nominated in the same category (the title song for the Sidney Poitier film For Love of Ivy).
He had his last hit song in 1969–70 with "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", co-written with Bobby Scott and recorded by The Hollies. The song was introduced to the group by Russell's son-in-law Jefferey Spearitt, who was living in London at the time with his wife Simohn.
Among Russell's collaborators were Louis Alter, Peter De Rose, Duke Ellington, Bronislaw Kaper, Lester Lee, Carl Sigman, Harold Spina, and Harry Warren.
Hall of fame In 1970, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Tyler, Don (2007). [ Hit Songs, 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era]. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 467. . In 2004, he was posthumously awarded the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers lifetime achievement award in the pop category. The award's presenter, songwriter Marilyn Bergman, called Russell a "mentor and dear, dear friend", without whom she "never would have become a songwriter".
Personal life and death Russell died in 1970 from lymphoma in Beverly Hills at the age of 55.
Published songs
Lyricist "Babalu" (music by written by Margarita Lecuona) "Ballerina" (music by Carl Sigman) "Brazil" (wrote English language lyric to music by Ary Barroso) "Carnival" (music by Harry Warren) "Circus" (music by Louis Alter) "Crazy He Calls Me" (music by Carl Sigman) "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" (music by Duke Ellington) "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (music by Duke Ellington) "Frenesi" (Music by Alberto Domínguez, lyrics by Dominguez and Charles Carpenter as well as Russell) "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (music by Bobby Scott) "I Didn't Know About You" (music by Duke Ellington) "I Know, I Know, I Know" (music by Bronislaw Kaper) "Interlude" (music by Pete Rugolo) "Like Love" (music by Duke Ellington) "Maria Elena" (music by Lorenzo Barcelata) "Misirlou" (collaboration with Fred Wise and Milton Leeds on English language lyric) "No More" (with Tutti Camarata) "No Other Love" (music by Paul Weston after Frédéric Chopin) "Once" (1962 with Joanie Sommers and Bobby Troup Sextet) (music by Harold Spina) "Taboo" (wrote English language lyric to music by Margarita Lecuona) "The Next Train Out" (music by Lincoln Mayorga) "Temporary Jones" (music by Robert Lamm) "Time Was" (English lyric for "Duerme", music by Miguel Prado, original Spanish lyric by Gabriel Luna de la Fuente) "(Why Have a Falling Out) Just When We're Falling in Love" (adaptation of "Robbin's Nest" by Illinois Jacquet and Sir Charles Thompson) "Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)" (music by Harold Spina) "You Came a Long Way from St. Louis" (music by John Benson Brooks)
Composer "Busy as a Bee" (in collaboration with Joseph Meyer and Carl Sigman) "Concerto for Cootie" (in collaboration with Duke Ellington)Composers. Russell, Bob. Naxos Music Library. Retrieved October 13, 2024. "I'm Winging Home" (in collaboration with Harry Tobias)Composers. Russell, Bob. Naxos Music Library. Retrieved October 13, 2024. "The Color of Love" (with Bronislaw Kaper) "You Go Your Way (and I'll Go Crazy)" (with lyricist Lincoln Mayorga)
References
External links Bob Russell on Songwriters Hall of Fame site
Bio on Jazz Standards site