Elisse Boyd (born Agnes Elisse Corbett) (1910–1979) was a composer. She married William R. Boyd III and changed her name to Elisse Boyd. She had collaborated with Murray Grand and Leonard Whitcup. She had also collaborated with George Goehring with the songs "Sad but True" and "You Oughta be Ashamed".

Early life Agnes Elisse Corbett was born in 1910 in Peducah, Kentucky. Her father was Hal Corbett, who was a friend of fellow Kentuckians Alben W. Barkley (one of the vice presidents under President Truman) and humorist and columnist Irvin Cobb. Her father was claimed to have been one of the three men who were the inspiration for Irvin Cobb's composite character of Judge Priest.

Career Boyd began song writing with entering a Fort Worth, Texas contest for best theme song. She won in the competition sponsored by Casa Mañana Theater with the song "Dancing in the Moonlight", which was used for a 1937 performance at the theater. In 1944, her song "Lo! and Behold!" was first published in the United Kingdom during World War II so that she could be with her husband Colonel Boyd (his rank at that time during the war) who was stationed in Europe.BOYD; ELISSE

Lo! and behold!

Words and music by Elisse C. Boyd. © Francis, Day;

Hunter, Ltd., London; 20Sep.4l.;EF9 275.

U.S. Library of Congress Copyright Office

https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse The following year, the Frank Parker version of "Lo! and Behold!" was broadcast on the American Album of Familiar Music radio program. In the same year as the radio broadcast, she had announced to the print media that she was collaborating with composer Leonard Whitcup. With their collaboration, they had composed the song "Unbelievable" (1947).

Guess Who I Saw Today

With Murray Grand, she co-wrote "Guess Who I Saw Today" for the Broadway musical review New Faces of 1952, where the song was sung by June Carroll. Eartha Kitt, who was a cast member of New Face of 1952, would later sing Boyd's song "Thursday Child" in 1957.Thursday's Child (with Henri René and His Orchestra) (LPM-1300) With "Guess Who I Saw Today", the song would go onto become a hit song with multiple artists singing the cover. There were musical performances of the cover by Eydie Gormé, Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan.Variety Staff (March 27, 2007). "Murray Grand, 87, composer". Variety. Nancy Wilson had popularized what would become her signature song from her album "Something Wonderful" (1960). The first stanza of "Guess Who I Saw Today" (1952) is the following:You're so late getting home from the office?

Did you miss your train?

Were you caught in the rain?

No, don't bother to explain.

Late 1950s and early 1960s In 1959, her song "Mrs. Williams", a song about a lady who never wants to leave a cocktail party, was in the musical review Pieces of Eight by Julius Monk for the New York City cabaret scene at The Downstairs Club. Her song "I'd Rather Cha Cha than Eat" (co-written with Murray Grand) was in the Phyllis Diller album "Wet Toe in the Socket" (1959). The following year, her song "The Other Woman" was in Martha Wright's album "Love, Honor and All That Jazz...Songs for After the Honeymoon is Over" (1960).

Performers of the cover songs

Discography +Music Compositions of Elisse BoydTitleYearMusicLyricsSilly, Isn't It?U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog

Drawer Name EU_228000-229749

Card Name CC19381945EU_228000-229749.0302a.jpg

CC19381945EU_228000-229749.0302b.jpg1940As Elisse Corbett BoydAs Elisse Corbett BoydI'm No Angel1943Elisse BoydElisse BoydLo! and Behold!1944Elisse BoydElisse BoydUnbelievableBoyd, Elisse.

UNBELIEVABLE.

Words and music: Elisse Boyd & Leonard V. Whitcup,

Cecille Music Company, inc. 3Oct47

https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse1947Elisse Boyd Leonard WhitcupElisse Boyd Leonard WhitcupChic CharroChico Charro M1v630 [Hansen, Bill] By Elisse Boyd, Murray H. Grand, and Dale Wood (pseudonym) © Cecil Music Co., New York; 3 October 1947; EP21k378. For voice and piano, with chord symbols. Library of Congress Copyright Office https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse1947Elisse Boyd Murray Grand

Dale WoodElisse Boyd Murray Grand

Dale WoodLil from PhiladelphiaBoyd, Elisse.

LIL FROM PHILADELPHIA

W & m: Elisse Boyd, Murray Grand, and Ken Hecht

28Jan48 EUll4122

https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse1948Elisse Boyd Murray Grand

Ken HechtElisse Boyd Murray Grand

Ken HechtA Honey of a HoneyBoyd, Elisse

A HONEY of a HONEY

Words &music- Elisse Boyd & Murray L. Grand

Eagle Music Publishing Corp.

17Nov47 EU103251

https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse1949Elisse Boyd Murray GrandElisse Boyd Murray GrandLoreleiBoyd, Elisse.

LORELEI w Elisse Boyd © m George E.Cardini

EU180633

https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse1949George E. CardiniElisse BoydBe-Bop BlueBoyd, Elisse.BE-BOP BLUES © w & m Murray Grand & Elisse Boyd 25Ju149 EU177064

https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse1949Elisse Boyd Murray GrandElisse Boyd Murray GrandRicky Tick SongBoyd, Elisse. THE RICKY-TICK SONG

Words and music Elisse Boyd & Murray Grand

© Michael Music Co.,inc. 4Nov49 EU183867

Library of Congress Copyright Office

https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse1949Elisse Boyd Murray GrandElisse Boyd Murray GrandGuess Who I Saw Today from New Faces of 1952Boyd, Elisse.

GUESS WHO I SAW TODAY from New faces of 1952;

Words and musicL Murray Grand & Elisse Boyd

© Santly-Joy, inc.

22Apr52 EU272779

Library of Congress Copyright Office

https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse1952Elisse Boyd Murray GrandElisse Boyd Murray GrandThursday's Child1956Edward CooperElisse BoydHurry from News Faces of 19561956Elisse Boyd Murray GrandElisse Boyd Murray GrandI'd Rather Cha-Cha than EatEP0000130284 / 1959-05-20

Type of Work Music

Title I'd rather cha-cha than eat.

w Murray Grand & Elisse Boyd, m Murray Grand.

Copyright Claimant Murray Grand (A)

Names Grand, Murray and Boyd, Elisse

https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_72157561959Elisse Boyd Murray GrandMurray Grand

References