Cy Coben
Encyclopedia
Cyrus "Cy" Coben was an American songwriter whose hits were recorded by bandleaders, country singers, The Beatles
, and even Leonard Nimoy
.
Coben was born in Jersey City
, New Jersey
, where his Jewish father was a cheese salesman. Coben learned to play the trumpet and studied at a local music academy. In 1942 he had his first charting song with "My Little Cousin", which Benny Goodman
's orchestra and vocalist Peggy Lee
took to #14. Coben spent the next several years in the Navy, serving in the South Pacific. On his return in 1946 he resumed his songwriting career. He wrote "A Good Woman's Love" for his wife Shirley Nagel, who he married in 1948.
In 1947 Coben wrote a novelty song called "(When You See) Those Flying Saucers" which was released as a single by the Buchanan Brothers
; his co-author was Charles Randolph Grean
, who was working for RCA/Victor. Grean was to become a long-time collaborator of Coben's. In 1949 Coben first visited Nashville and soon became a part of the music business there.
In Nashville, Coben wrote for a variety of artists, but was especially associated with Eddy Arnold
; he wrote "There's Been a Change in Me
" and "I Wanna Play House With You
", two #1 country hits for Arnold in 1951, and went on to write many other songs for him, often with Charles Grean, who was Arnold's manager - "Eddy's Song
", a #1 country hit in 1953; "Free Home Demonstration" (#4 country) in 1954, and others. Coben and Grean also wrote songs for other artists, such as their version of "Sweet Violets
", which charted for Dinah Shore
and Jane Turzy
in 1951.
Coben wrote the weeper "Nobody's Child
" with Mel Foree; Hank Snow
recorded it in 1949. Lonnie Donegan
later brought it to England, and The Beatles recorded it during their early days playing in Hamburg, Germany
.
Coben wrote many novelty songs; one of his biggest hits, "Old Piano Roll Blues", was something of a novelty, and he also wrote many songs for the country comedians Homer and Jethro
- "The Billboard Song" became a much-recorded favorite, and "Don't Jump Off the Roof, Dad" was later a hit for British comedian Tommy Cooper
. Coben wrote "How to Catch a Man" for country comedienne Minnie Pearl
and it became one of her standards. The New Riders of the Purple Sage
recorded Coben's "Red Hot Women and Ice Cold Beer". His old collaborator Charles Grean was Leonard Nimoy's record producer, and Coben wrote several songs for him ("Alien", "The Difference Between Us").
Coben's humor and sentiment translated well to the European market - American-born singer Bill Ramsey
took Coben's "Souvenirs" to #1 in Germany in 1959, and Belgian star Will Tura
recorded a number of Coben tunes ("Show Me the Man"/"Waar is de man"; "The Great El Tigre"/"El Bandido"). "Goethe War Gut" charted in Germany for Rudi Carrell
in 1978.
Although comedian Sheb Wooley
's 1968 song "Country Music Hall of Fame" (as Hee Haw
regular "Ben Colder") envisioned Coben as a inductee, Coben has never been elected to the real Country Music Hall of Fame or the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, and even Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
.
Coben was born in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, where his Jewish father was a cheese salesman. Coben learned to play the trumpet and studied at a local music academy. In 1942 he had his first charting song with "My Little Cousin", which Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
's orchestra and vocalist Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
took to #14. Coben spent the next several years in the Navy, serving in the South Pacific. On his return in 1946 he resumed his songwriting career. He wrote "A Good Woman's Love" for his wife Shirley Nagel, who he married in 1948.
In 1947 Coben wrote a novelty song called "(When You See) Those Flying Saucers" which was released as a single by the Buchanan Brothers
Buchanan Brothers
The Buchanan Brothers were two brothers, Chester and Lester Buchanan, who recorded country music during the 1940s on the RCA Victor label. They had a top ten hit, "Atomic Power", released in August 1946; this song was also featured in the 1982 movie The Atomic Café...
; his co-author was Charles Randolph Grean
Charles Randolph Grean
Charles Randolph Grean was an American producer and composer.-Professional life:Grean's first work was as a copyist in several big bands, including Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and Charlie Spivak...
, who was working for RCA/Victor. Grean was to become a long-time collaborator of Coben's. In 1949 Coben first visited Nashville and soon became a part of the music business there.
In Nashville, Coben wrote for a variety of artists, but was especially associated with Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold
Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
; he wrote "There's Been a Change in Me
There's Been a Change in Me
"There's Been a Change in Me" is a 1951 song written by Cy Coben and performed by Eddy Arnold. The song went to number one on the Country & Western Best Seller chart for four weeks and spent a total of twenty-three weeks on the chart....
" and "I Wanna Play House With You
I Wanna Play House With You
"I Wanna Play House With You" is a 1951 song by Eddy Arnold, written by Cy Coben. The song would hit number one on the Country & Western Best Seller lists for six weeks and a total of twenty-four weeks on the chart...
", two #1 country hits for Arnold in 1951, and went on to write many other songs for him, often with Charles Grean, who was Arnold's manager - "Eddy's Song
Eddy's Song
"Eddy's Song" is a 1953 single by Eddy Arnold, written by Charlie Grean and Cy Coben. "Eddy's Song" spent three weeks at number one on the Country & Western chart and spent a total of thirteen weeks on the chart....
", a #1 country hit in 1953; "Free Home Demonstration" (#4 country) in 1954, and others. Coben and Grean also wrote songs for other artists, such as their version of "Sweet Violets
Sweet Violets
"Sweet Violets" is a surprising humorous lyrics. The song consists mainly of couplets, except that the last word of each couplet, which can generally be inferred from a combination of context and the ostensible rhyming scheme, is instead cut off by the start of the next couplet or by the...
", which charted for Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
and Jane Turzy
Jane Turzy
Jane Turzy was a Chicago, Illinois-born singer of traditional pop music.She succeeded in reaching the popularity charts only in 1951 with three recordings she made for Decca Records...
in 1951.
Coben wrote the weeper "Nobody's Child
Nobody's Child (song)
"Nobody's Child" is a song written by Cy Coben and Mel Foree. It was first recorded by Hank Snow in 1949 and it became one of his standards, although it did not chart for him...
" with Mel Foree; Hank Snow
Hank Snow
Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980...
recorded it in 1949. Lonnie Donegan
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan MBE was a skiffle musician, with more than 20 UK Top 30 hits to his name. He is known as the "King of Skiffle" and is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s...
later brought it to England, and The Beatles recorded it during their early days playing in Hamburg, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Coben wrote many novelty songs; one of his biggest hits, "Old Piano Roll Blues", was something of a novelty, and he also wrote many songs for the country comedians Homer and Jethro
Homer and Jethro
Homer and Jethro were the stage names of American country music duo Henry D. Haynes and Kenneth C. Burns , popular from the 1940s through the 1960s on radio and television for their satirical versions of popular songs...
- "The Billboard Song" became a much-recorded favorite, and "Don't Jump Off the Roof, Dad" was later a hit for British comedian Tommy Cooper
Tommy Cooper
Thomas Frederick "Tommy" Cooper was a very popular British prop comedian and magician from Caerphilly, Wales.Cooper was a member of The Magic Circle, and respected by traditional magicians...
. Coben wrote "How to Catch a Man" for country comedienne Minnie Pearl
Minnie Pearl
Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon , known professionally as Minnie Pearl, was an American country comedienne who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and on the television show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991.-Early life:Sarah Colley was born in Centerville, in Hickman County, Tennessee,...
and it became one of her standards. The New Riders of the Purple Sage
New Riders of the Purple Sage
New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco, California in 1969, and its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead. Their best known song is "Panama Red"...
recorded Coben's "Red Hot Women and Ice Cold Beer". His old collaborator Charles Grean was Leonard Nimoy's record producer, and Coben wrote several songs for him ("Alien", "The Difference Between Us").
Coben's humor and sentiment translated well to the European market - American-born singer Bill Ramsey
Bill Ramsey
William Thrace Ramsey, Jr. was an American professional baseball player who was an outfielder for the Boston Braves for a single Major League Baseball season in 1945....
took Coben's "Souvenirs" to #1 in Germany in 1959, and Belgian star Will Tura
Will Tura
Will Tura is the stage name of Arthur Achiel Albert, Knight Blanckaert, a Belgian artist famous in Flanders and the Netherlands. Tura is a singer, musician , composer and songwriter...
recorded a number of Coben tunes ("Show Me the Man"/"Waar is de man"; "The Great El Tigre"/"El Bandido"). "Goethe War Gut" charted in Germany for Rudi Carrell
Rudi Carrell
Rudi Carrell , born Rudolf Wijbrand Kesselaar, was a Dutch entertainer. Along with famous entertainers such as Johannes Heesters, Linda de Mol and Sylvie van der Vaart, Carrell was one of the most successful Dutch personalities active in Germany.He worked as a television entertainer and hosted his...
in 1978.
Although comedian Sheb Wooley
Sheb Wooley
Shelby F. "Sheb" Wooley was a character actor and singer, best known for his 1958 novelty song "Purple People Eater"...
's 1968 song "Country Music Hall of Fame" (as Hee Haw
Hee Haw
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
regular "Ben Colder") envisioned Coben as a inductee, Coben has never been elected to the real Country Music Hall of Fame or the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
.
Charting hits by Cy Coben
- "My Little Cousin" (Coben/Happy Lewis/Sam Braverman) - #14 hit for Benny Goodman/Peggy Lee in 1942
- "There's No Wings On My Angel" (Coben/Arnold/Doug Melsher) - #6 Country/Western hit for Eddy Arnold, 1949
- "I Love the Guy" (Coben) - #10 pop hit for Sarah VaughanSarah VaughanSarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
and #22 for Fran WarrenFran WarrenFrances Wolfe , known by her stage name, Fran Warren, is an American popular singer.She was born as to a Jewish family in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City...
in 1950 - "Old Piano Roll Blues" - in 1950, charted for Hoagy CarmichaelHoagy CarmichaelHoward Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the...
and Cass Daley (#11); Lawrence CookLawrence CookLawrence Cook may refer to:* Lawrence Cook , American actor* Lawrence Cook , Lancashire medium-pace bowler* Lawrence Cook , English footballer* J. Lawrence Cook , piano roll artist...
(#13); Cliff Steward and the San Francisco Boys (#18); Eddie CantorEddie CantorEddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
, Lisa KirkLisa KirkLisa Kirk was an American actress and singer noted for her comic talents and rich contralto .-Career:...
, and the Sammy KayeSammy KayeSammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
Orchestra (#25); Jan GarberJan GarberJan Garber was an American jazz bandleader.-Biography:Garber was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He had his own band by the time he was 21 . He became known as "The Idol of the Airwaves" in his heyday of the 1920s and 1930s, playing jazz in the vein of contemporaries such as Paul Whiteman and Guy...
and His Orchestra (#30); and The JubalairesThe JubalairesThe Jubalaires were an American gospel group active during the 1940s and 1950s. They were playing as the Royal Harmony Singers in Florida as far back as 1936, and under that name reached #10 on the R&B charts on November 14, 1942 with "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition", a song adapted from...
(#25). It also appeared on the soundtrack of the 1951 movie Rich, Young and PrettyRich, Young and PrettyRich, Young and Pretty is a 1951 musical film produced by Joe Pasternak for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Norman Taurog. It was written by Dorothy Cooper and Sidney Sheldon, starred Jane Powell, Danielle Darrieux, Wendell Corey, and Fernando Lamas, and introduced Vic Damone... - "There's Been a Change in Me" (Coben) - #1 Country/Western hit for Eddy Arnold, 1951
- "I Wanna Play House with You" (Coben) - #1 Country/Western hit for Eddy Arnold, 1951
- "Meanderin'" (Coben/George Botsford/Charles R. Grean) - #28 pop hit for Vaughn MonroeVaughn MonroeVaughn Wilton Monroe was an American baritone singer, trumpeter and big band leader and actor, most popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording and radio.-Biography:...
in 1951 - "Something Old, Something New" (Coben/Grean) - B side of "I Wanna Play House with You", reached #4 for Arnold
- "Sweet Violets" - arranged by Coben and Grean; #3 pop hit for Dinah ShoreDinah ShoreDinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
, 1951; another 1951 version by Jane TurzyJane TurzyJane Turzy was a Chicago, Illinois-born singer of traditional pop music.She succeeded in reaching the popularity charts only in 1951 with three recordings she made for Decca Records...
reached as high as #11 on the Billboard jukebox chart, and Doris Drew took it to #22 - "Lonely Little Robin" (Coben) - #14 jukebox hit for The Pinetoppers in 1951; also #25 radio hit for Mindy CarsonMindy CarsonMindy Carson , an American traditional pop vocalist, was heard often on radio during the 1940s and 1950s.She was born in New York City. In 1946, still in her teens, she won an audition to the radio program, Stairway to the Stars. This gave her a chance to perform with Paul Whiteman's band and...
- "Never Been Kissed" (Coben/Grean) - #19 pop hit for Freddy MartinFreddy MartinFrederick Alfred Martin was an American bandleader and tenor saxophonist.-Early life:Martin was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised largely in an orphanage and with various relatives, Martin started out playing drums, then switched to C-melody saxophone and later tenor saxophone, the latter the one...
in 1951 - "Easy on the EyesEasy on the Eyes"Easy on the Eyes" is a 1952 single by Eddy Arnold, written by Arnold and songwriter Cy Coben. "Easy on the Eyes" was Eddy Arnold's forty-sixth entry on the Country & Western chart...
" (Coben/Arnold) - #1 Country/Western hit for Eddy Arnold, 1952 - "Lady's Man" (Cy Coben) - #2 Country/Western hit for Hank SnowHank SnowClarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980...
in 1952 - "Older and Bolder" (Cy Coben) - #3 Country/Western hit for Eddy Arnold in 1952
- "Do I Like It" (Coben) - #6 C/W hit for Carl SmithCarl SmithCarl Smith may refer to:* Carl Smith , American country music singer* Carl Smith , American football coach* Carl Smith , ice hockey winger...
in 1953 - "Eddy's SongEddy's Song"Eddy's Song" is a 1953 single by Eddy Arnold, written by Charlie Grean and Cy Coben. "Eddy's Song" spent three weeks at number one on the Country & Western chart and spent a total of thirteen weeks on the chart....
" (Charlie Grean, Cy Coben) - #1 Country/Western hit for Eddy Arnold in 1953 - "Free Home Demonstration" (Grean, Coben) - #4 Country/Western hit for Eddy Arnold in 1953
- "Beware of 'It'" - #9 C/W hit for Johnnie & JackJohnnie & JackJohnnie & Jack was an American country music duo composed of Johnnie Wright and Jack Anglin . Between 1951 and 1962, the duo released several singles on the RCA Victor Records label, including their version of "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" which peaked at number four on the Best Seller charts,...
in 1954 - "Hep Cat Baby" - #7 Country/Western hit for Eddy Arnold in 1954
- "That Crazy Mambo Thing" - #10 C/W hit for Hank Snow in 1954
- "Would You Mind" - #3 C/W hit for Hank Snow, 1955
- "I Saw Esau" - #51 pop hit for The Ames Brothers in 1956
- "My Treasure" (Coben/Bill Templeton) - #31 pop hit for The Hilltoppers in 1956
- "Souvenirs" (Coben) - #1 hit in Germany for Bill RamseyBill RamseyWilliam Thrace Ramsey, Jr. was an American professional baseball player who was an outfielder for the Boston Braves for a single Major League Baseball season in 1945....
in 1959 - "Don't Jump Off the Roof, Dad" - charted in the UK for Tommy CooperTommy CooperThomas Frederick "Tommy" Cooper was a very popular British prop comedian and magician from Caerphilly, Wales.Cooper was a member of The Magic Circle, and respected by traditional magicians...
in 1961 - "That Greasy Kid Stuff" - reached #74 for Janie Grant in 1962
- "I'm a Walkin' Advertisement (For the Blues)" - #32 Country hit for Norma JeanNorma Jean (singer)Norma Jean Beasler , better known as Norma Jean, is an American country music singer who was a member of The Porter Wagoner Show from 1961–1967. She had a number of country singles in the Top 10 and Top 20 between 1963 and 1967, including "Go Cat Go" and "The Game of Triangles", and was...
in 1964 - "The Great El Tigre (The Tiger)" (Coben) - #32 Country hit for Stu PhillipsStu PhillipsStu Phillips is an American composer of film scores and television-series theme music, conductor and record producer.-Career:...
in 1966 - "The Game of Triangles" (Coben) - #5 Country hit for Norma Jean, Liz AndersonLiz AndersonLiz Anderson was anAmerican country music singer/songwriter who was one of a wave of a new generation of female vocalists in the genre during the 1960's to write and record her own songs on a regular basis. Writing in The New York Times Bill Friskics-Warren noted, "Like her contemporary Loretta...
, and Bobby BareBobby BareRobert Joseph Bare is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the father of Bobby Bare, Jr., also a musician.-Early career:...
in 1966 - "Burning a Hole in My Mind" (Coben) - #5 C/W hit for Connie SmithConnie SmithConnie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson...
, 1967 - "Chet's Tune" (Coben) - #38 country hit by "Some of Chet's Friends" (a tribute to Chet AtkinsChet AtkinsChester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, who was a friend of Coben) - "Nobody's Child" (Coben/Mel Foree)- charted for Hank Williams Jr. (#46 Country, 1967), Karen YoungKaren YoungKaren Young may refer to:*Karen Young , American film and TV actress*Karen Young , American romance novelist of the late 20th / early 21st centuries...
(UK #6, 1969) - "The Name of the Game was Love" (Coben) - #16 Country for Hank Snow in 1969
- "Johnny's Cash and Charley's Pride" (Coben) - #38 C/W for Mac WisemanMac WisemanMalcolm B. Wiseman , better known as Mac Wiseman, is an American bluegrass singer, nicknamed The Voice with a Heart. The bearded singer is one of the cult figures of bluegrass....
in 1969 - "A Good Woman's Love" (Coben) - charted for Jerry ReedJerry ReedJerry Reed Hubbard , known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, innovative guitarist, songwriter, and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films...
(#12 Country, 1974) - "Goethe War Gut" (Cy Coben, Charles Grean, Thomas Woitkewitsch) - charted in Germany for Rudi CarrellRudi CarrellRudi Carrell , born Rudolf Wijbrand Kesselaar, was a Dutch entertainer. Along with famous entertainers such as Johannes Heesters, Linda de Mol and Sylvie van der Vaart, Carrell was one of the most successful Dutch personalities active in Germany.He worked as a television entertainer and hosted his...
in 1978