Composers

Harry Akst

Written by ChrisRick on Thursday 21 February 2008

American songwriter Harry Akst was born in New York City on 15 August, 1894. He would eventually turn out to be a pianist, accompanist and one of the most prolific composers of the time. He even performed as a pianist in vaudeville.

But prior to his successful musical career he served in the army from 1916, where he met Irving Berlin whom he would collaborate with on Home Again Blues in 1921. In 1925 he would again collaborate with others and they would produce the hit song Dinah which was recorded several by such icons as Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers among others. 1927 saw him collaborating on the Broadway musical, Artists and Models, before he moved on to Hollywood Musicals. Films he later contributed to include:

Bulldog Drummond The Squall This Is Heave On With The Show Broadway Babies Mississippi Gambler No, No, Nanette Song of the Wes The Song of the Flame Lethernecking Palmy Days The Kid From Spain Dinah Professional Sweetheart

Glamour Stand Up and Cheer! Change of Hear The Silver Streak Paddy O’Day Star For A Night Fight For Your Lady Up the River Battle of Broadway Island in the Sky Harvest Melody Rosie the Riveter This Time for Keeps

Harry Akst was married to wife Rose and they had two children (unconfirmed). He died 31 March 1963 and is buried in Hollywood. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983.

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Category: A, Composers

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