Roy Kenneth Turk (September 20, 1892 – November 30, 1934) was an American songwriter and lyricist, who frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert, with whom he wrote their popular 1929 song "Mean to Me", which became a jazz standard. In 1926 he collaborated with Lou Handman on his best known song, the 1927 hit Are You Lonesome Tonight?, which Elvis Presley later revived. He worked with many other composers, including for film lyrics. Turk was elected posthumously to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
Overview Among his compositions (with music by Fred Ahlert unless otherwise noted): 1923 – "My Sweetie Went Away" (music by Lou Handman) 1927 – "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" (music by Lou Handman), popularized in 1960 by Elvis Presley 1928 – "I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)" 1928 – "Mean to Me" 1931 – "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" 1931 – "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" 1931 – "Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day)" for Bing Crosby 1932 – "Love, You Funny Thing!"
He also worked with composers such as Harry Akst, George W. Meyer, Charles Tobias, Arthur Johnston, Maceo Pinkard, and J. Russell Robinson.
References The ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Third edition, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, New York (1966) ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth edition, compiled for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, by Jaques Cattell Press, R.R. Bowker, New York (1980) The Complete Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz, 1900–1950, Three volumes, by Roger D. Kinkle, Arlington House Publishers, New Rochelle, New York (1974) Songwriters. A biographical dictionary with discographies, by Nigel Harrison, McFarland & Co., Jefferson, North Carolina (1998) Sweet and Lowdown. America's popular songwriters, by Warren Craig, Scarecrow Press, Metuchen, New Jersey (1978), Biographies appear in the 'After Tin Pan Alley' section, beginning on page 91 American Popular Songs. From the Revolutionary War to the present, edited by David Ewen, Random House, New York (1966)
External links
Biography of Roy Turk at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Roy Turk recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.