Michael Paul Grace ll (August 6, 1917 – April 1, 1995) was the producer of the Broadway shows King of Friday's Men (1951) and John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1953).
Grace was the lyricist and composer of some of the music for the Almanac show and was the author/co-author of a variety of copyrighted music in the recording industry. In the 1950s, he was the assignor for a variety of patented technologies.
He later became an oil and gas producer as well as becoming involved in mining industry applications of oil and gas technology by means of what is called solutions mining. He made philanthropic donations to create several professorships at Notre Dame University.
Early life Michael P. Grace II was born on August 6, 1917. His father was Joseph P. Grace, the former chairman of W. R. Grace and Company. His siblings were Janet Maureen Grace, Charles M. Grace and J. Peter Grace, who was also the former chairman of W. R. Grace and Company. The reference is a court case which explains how the person in this biography is related to J. Peter Grace and Joseph Grace. His grandfather was William Russell Grace, the first Roman Catholic mayor of New York City and the founder of W. R. Grace and Company. His great uncle was an industrialist and chairman of the board of the directors of W. R. Grace, Michael P. Grace.
He attended Harvard University, the University of Notre Dame, and Fordham School of Law.
Theatre and music career
King of Friday's Men He first produced King of Friday's Men in 1951 on Broadway in New York City. It was a comedy set in the 18th century Ireland by Irish playwright Michael Joseph Molloy, and had been directed by David Alexander.
The cast members for the show were:
Sean McClory: Rory Commons
Maggie McNamara: Una Brehony
Walter Macken: Bartley Dowd
Both his grandfather, William R. Grace, and his great uncle, Michael P. Grace, had been born in Ireland.
However, the show closed after two days and four performances.
John Murray Anderson's Almanac
Grace then produced with Stanley Gilky and Harry Rigby the Broadway production of the musical revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac, which opened on December 10, 1953, and continued until June 26, 1954. The show ran for 229 performances.
John Murray Anderson's Almanac was a music and comedy revue and consisted of cast members Billy De Wolfe, Orson Bean, Tina Louise, Hermione Gingold, Harry Belafonte, Polly Bergen, Carleton Carpenter, and Monique van Mooren. The show was conceived and staged by John Murray Anderson, and Henry Sullivan was one of the composers. Both had worked together in John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1929), as well as on part of the soundtrack for The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). Michael P. Grace II, along with being one of the producers, wrote some of the music and lyrics for the show as well. Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, who wrote most of the music and lyrics, started their careers in Broadway theatre with this show, going on to write songs for The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees over the course of the next two years (1954–1955). Singer and actress Hermione Gingold, originally from England, started her Broadway career as well with this show. She and fellow cast member Billy de Wolfe would go on to win the 1954 Donaldson Award for Male and Female Debut in a Musical. In the same award ceremony, Harry Belafonte won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. +Examples of music talent management:Before John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1953)After the 1953 ShowJohn Murray Anderson & Henry Sullivan had written part of the soundtrack for The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, who had written a majority of the music, would go on to write music for The Pajama Game (1954) and Damn Yankees (1955).
Concert productions In 1953, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, with Alfonso D'Artega as conductor, performed the musical composition co-written by Grace, Helmy Kresa, and Maestro D'Artega, in the Summer Pops Concert at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, New York. The composition, titled Space Taxi Selections, was described by the Buffalo Courier-Express as "musical impressionism with a jive tempo". The newspaper also reported how the selections "brought a burst of applause from the audience".
In 1957, Grace and Chris F. Anderson presented Jazz Under the Stars at the Wollman Memorial Theatre in New York City's Central Park. It was produced by Grace in association with Monte Kay and Pete Kameron. Kay and Kameron would later go on to create FM Records. The show starred Billie Holiday, the Jerry Mulligan Quartet, Dinah Washington, Buddy Rich, Stan Getz, and Jo Jones. Commentary was provided by Al "Jazzbo" Collins and Sean Shepherd.
Composer and lyricist Grace, along with having created some of the music and lyrics to his Broadway production, had written a variety of copyrighted songs for the recording industry as well. He wrote/co-wrote the music for Teeny, Weeny Martini (1953) and Cradled in the Arms of Love (1953) with Sammy Gallup and Helmy Kresa. He and John Rox, a fellow lyricist and composer from the Almanac show, wrote Let a Little Time Go By (1954). He also did musical collaborations with Clay Boland and Alfonso D'Artega. (See Discography below).
Discography +TitleYearWordsMusicAbsence Makes the Heart Grow FonderUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0108
1945-19541947Michael Grace, George Tonak, Nola Hooper, & Dale WoodMichael Grace, George Tonak, Nola Hooper, & Dale Wood Are You Really in LoveUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0109
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Charlie BealMichael Grace & Charlie BealBrooklyn, USAUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0110
1945-19541947Michael GraceMichael GraceDarlingUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0112
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Dale WoodMichael Grace & Dale WoodDid You Know I Love YouUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0113
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Dale WoodMichael Grace & Dale WoodFATIMA-Lady of LoveUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0114
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Carl Tucker Michael Grace & Carl TuckerGEE, I'd Like to Fall in LoveUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0117
1945-19541947Michael GraceMichael GraceHangin' 'RoundUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0118
1945-19541947Michael Grace, George Tonak, & Dale WoodMichael Grace, George Tonak, & Dale WoodI Dare to DreamUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0119
1945-19541947Michael Grace, George Tonak, & Dale WoodMichael Grace, George Tonak, & Carl TuckerGO FOR YOUUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0121
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Dale WoodMichael Grace & Dale WoodIf Love Can HappenUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0124
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Dale WoodClay BolandI am Just a Hillbilly BoyUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0125
1945-19541947Michael GraceMichael GraceI'm Tired of Being the Fall GuyUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0127
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Carl TuckerMichael Grace & Carl TuckerIsn't Love a Funny ThingUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0128
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Clay BolandMichael Grace & Clay BolandPersonality TuneUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0132
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Carl TuckerMichael Grace & Carl TuckerPourquoiUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0134
1945-19541947Michael Grace, Carl Tucker, & Dale WoodMichael Grace, Carl Tucker, & Dale WoodRoses Sprinkled With StardustUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0135
1945-19541947Michael Grace, William Sullivan, Dale Wood, & Phil VenegasMike Grace, William Sullivan,
Dale Wood, & Phil VanegasSanta Mater EcclesiaUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0136
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Carl TuckerMichael Grace & Carl TuckerSong of the EastUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0139
1945-19541947Michael Grace & Dale WoodClay BolandThe Yankee PolkaUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0141
1945-19541947Michael GraceMichael GraceSmiling through the TearsUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0137
1945-19541948James Cassin & Marin BierneMichael Grace & Dale WoodThat's Why My Heart Feels So GayUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0140
1945-19541948Michael Grace & Maureen GraceMichael Grace & Maureen Grace (his sister)PourquoiUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0133
1945-19541948Michael Grace & Carl TuckerMichael Grace & Carl TuckerMarry MeGrace, Michael P.
R602339
Marry Me, words and music by Michael P. Grace
© 1 April 1948; R6023391948Michael GraceMichael GraceCalling All Cars
Police, secoursUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0147
1945-19541949English Version: Michael Grace French Version: Michael EmerMichael EmerBabyUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0145
1945-19541949Michael GraceMichael GraceI Never Saw So Much Love as I See in Your EyesUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0123
1945-19541952Jack SchollMichael Grace & Helmy KresaMiracle of FatimaUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0130
1945-19541952Michael GraceHelmy KresaAstral BalletUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0144
1945-19541953Michael Grace & Alfonso D'ArtegaAct I, Opening ActUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0142
1945-1954(John Murray Anderson's Almanac)1953Michael GraceAre They Really In Love?US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0143
1945-19541953Michael GraceMichael GraceI'm Not Walking, I'm DancingUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0126
1945-19541953Sammy GallopMichael GraceMidnight in New YorkT rea, lelmy.MIDNIGHT IN NEW, YORK; w Sammy Gallopm Michael Grace &'Helmy Kresa ©Gabriel Records 7May53 EU315329IILibrary of CongressCopyright Office1953Sammy GallopMichael Grace & Helmy KresaChristmas HolidayUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0148
1945-19541953Michael GraceMichael GraceI Dare to DreamUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0120
1945-19541953Sammy GallopMichael Grace & Carl TuckerFall in LoveUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0114
1945-19541953Michael GraceMichael GraceTeeny, Weeny Martini1953Sammy GallopMichael Grace & Helmy KresaCradled in the Arms of Love1953Sammy GallopMichael Grace & Helmy KresaBe NaturalUS Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog,
Drawer: Grac-Grac,
Card #.0146
1945-19541953Michael GraceMichael GraceLet a Little Time Go By1954John RoxMichael GraceLet a Little Time Go By1978Michael Grace
Assignee of various patented technologies +PatentsDeviceInventorYearAssignor toCombination Skirt, Cape, and BlousePatent #173,481 COMBINATION SKIRT, CAPE, AND BLOUSE
Iris Flores, New York, N.Y., assignor to Michael P. Grace, New York, N.Y. Application July 14, 1953, Serial No. 25,932Iris Flores1953Michael P. GracePerfume VialPatent #189,534
PERFUME VIAL, Christy M. Del Mas, New York, N. Y., assignor to Michael P. Grace, New York, N. Y. Application September 11, 1952, Serial No. 21,422Christy M. Del Mas1953Michael P. GraceSandwich and Hors D'oeuversPatent #170,679 SANDWICH AND HORS D'OEUVIRE TRAY