Dick Manning
Encyclopedia
Dick Manning was a Russia
n-born American
songwriter, best known for his many collaborations with Al Hoffman
.
Manning was born in Gomel, and came to the United States with his family when he was six years old. He studied at the Juilliard School of Music. Manning made the change from Medoff in 1948, when he was beginning to have success with his songwriting.
In the early 1940s, he had a radio show on WHN
radio in New York called Sam Medoff and His Yiddish Swing Orchestra; his band was called "The Yiddish Swingtet". He and his band were also regulars on "Yiddish Melodies in Swing", also broadcast on WHN. The 15 minute weekly radio show, which blended traditional Yiddish folk music with swing and jazz, got its start on the station in 1938. Medoff and his Swingtet were hired to give a new twist to the traditional songs, as well as introduce new popular songs performed in Yiddish. The Barry Sisters
(Claire and Merna) were hired as the vocalists. The radio show was originally done live at the Lowes State Theatre every Sunday at 1PM; it was heard on radio until 1955. Medoff also played piano and organ for Yiddish crooner Seymour Rexite
's radio show.
He was the co-writer of many popular songs, among them: "Takes Two to Tango," "Fascination", "Hot Diggity" and "Papa Loves Mambo." They were recorded by artists such as Perry Como
, Sammy Kaye
, Kate Smith
and others; they have been published in 27 languages. He also composed The Boys From Boise, the first full-length television musical, which was presented on the DuMont Television Network
in 1944, appearing earlier in that year on DuMont's Key-Bored Televisual Presentations as a pianist. Manning also was an arranger, vocal coach and wrote radio jingles.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter, best known for his many collaborations with Al Hoffman
Al Hoffman
Al Hoffman , a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame since 1984, was a hit songwriter active in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, usually co-writing with others and responsible for number one hits through each decade, many of which are still sung and recorded today...
.
Manning was born in Gomel, and came to the United States with his family when he was six years old. He studied at the Juilliard School of Music. Manning made the change from Medoff in 1948, when he was beginning to have success with his songwriting.
In the early 1940s, he had a radio show on WHN
WEPN
WEPN is a 24-hour sports talk formatted radio station in New York City featuring national and local sports talk programs and live broadcasts of sports matches. It is the New York affiliate for ESPN Radio...
radio in New York called Sam Medoff and His Yiddish Swing Orchestra; his band was called "The Yiddish Swingtet". He and his band were also regulars on "Yiddish Melodies in Swing", also broadcast on WHN. The 15 minute weekly radio show, which blended traditional Yiddish folk music with swing and jazz, got its start on the station in 1938. Medoff and his Swingtet were hired to give a new twist to the traditional songs, as well as introduce new popular songs performed in Yiddish. The Barry Sisters
The Barry Sisters (United States)
Clara and Minnie Barry were popular American Jazz and Klesmer entertainers of the 1940s to the early 1970s.-Early years:Born in the Bronx, New York, they were first known as The Bagelman Sisters. They made a name for themselves as Yiddish jazz singers. When their act became more popular, they...
(Claire and Merna) were hired as the vocalists. The radio show was originally done live at the Lowes State Theatre every Sunday at 1PM; it was heard on radio until 1955. Medoff also played piano and organ for Yiddish crooner Seymour Rexite
Seymour Rexite
Seymour Rexite , originally Rechtzeit, was an actor and singer of the Yiddish theater, film and radio in the United States, and for some time president of the Hebrew Actors Union....
's radio show.
He was the co-writer of many popular songs, among them: "Takes Two to Tango," "Fascination", "Hot Diggity" and "Papa Loves Mambo." They were recorded by artists such as Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
, Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye
Sammy 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:...
, Kate Smith
Kate Smith
Kathryn Elizabeth "Kate" Smith was an American Popular singer, best known for her rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America". Smith had a radio, television, and recording career spanning five decades, which reached its pinnacle in the 1940s.Smith was born in Greenville, Virginia...
and others; they have been published in 27 languages. He also composed The Boys From Boise, the first full-length television musical, which was presented on the DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
in 1944, appearing earlier in that year on DuMont's Key-Bored Televisual Presentations as a pianist. Manning also was an arranger, vocal coach and wrote radio jingles.
Songs written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning
- Allegheny MoonAllegheny MoonAllegheny Moon is a popular song written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and published in 1956.The song is best known in a 1956 recording by Patti Page. This recording was released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70878, with the flip side The Strangest Romance. It first reached the Billboard...
(1956) - Dennis the MenaceDennis the Menace (U.S.)Dennis the Menace is a daily syndicated newspaper comic strip originally created, written and illustrated by Hank Ketcham. It debuted on March 12, 1951 in 16 newspapers and was originally distributed by Post-Hall Syndicate...
(1960) - Gilly, Gilly, Ossenfeffer, Katzenellen Bogen by the SeaGilly, Gilly, Ossenfeffer, Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea"Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea" is a popular song written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and published in 1954.The best-known version in the United States was recorded by The Four Lads with teenage girls Lillian Pasciolla and others on February 27, 1954...
(1954) - Hot DiggityHot Diggity"Hot Diggity " is an American popular song written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning. Published in 1956, it was recorded by Perry Como and went to #1 on the Billboard pop music chart later that year. The song's melody is based on Emmanuel Chabrier's 1883 composition, España.Perry Como's recording was...
(1956) - I Can't Tell a Waltz from a TangoI Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango"I Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango" is a popular song written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and published in 1954.The best known version in the United States was recorded by Patti Page; the best-known version in the United Kingdom by Alma Cogan...
(1954) - Mama, Teach Me to DanceMama, Teach Me to DanceThe song is best known in a 1956 recording by Eydie Gormé....
(1956) - Moon Talk (1958)
- O Dio Mio (1960)
- Takes Two to Tango (1952)
Songs written by Al Hoffman, Dick Manning and another collaborator
- Are You Really Mine?Are You Really Mine?The best-known recording of the song was done by Jimmie Rodgers, charting at #10 on the U.S. Billboard chart in 1958....
(1958) (with Mark Markwell) - Make Me a MiracleMake Me a MiracleThe best-known recording of the song was done by Jimmie Rodgers, charting in 1958....
(1958) (with Mark Markwell) - Oh-Oh, I'm Falling in Love AgainOh-Oh, I'm Falling in Love Again"Oh-Oh, I'm Falling in Love Again" is a popular song written by Al Hoffman, Dick Manning, and Mark Markwell and published in 1958.The best-known recording of the song was done by Jimmie Rodgers, charting in 1958. It debuted on the charts in February, and spent 11 weeks on the charts that spring,...
(1958) (with Mark Markwell) - Papa Loves MamboPapa Loves Mambo"Papa Loves Mambo" is a popular song written by Al Hoffman, Dick Manning, and Bix Reichner and published in 1954.The best-known version was recorded by Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra in New York City on August 31, 1954. The song was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number...
(1954) (with Bix Reichner) - SecretlySecretlyThe best-known recording of the song was done by Jimmie Rodgers, charting in 1958, reaching number three on the U.S. pop chart and number five on the country chart....
(1958) (with Mark Markwell)
Other songs
- JiltedJilted (song)"Jilted" is a popular song with music by Dick Manning and lyrics by Robert Colby, published in 1954.Teresa Brewer recorded the biggest-selling version on December 29, 1953. This recording was released by Coral Records as catalog number 61152. It first reached the U.S. Billboard chart on April 14,...
(with Robert Colby) - Fascination (lyrics)
- Not I (with Sammy Gallop)
- Walkin' With My Honey (with Buddy KayeBuddy KayeJules Leonard "Buddy" Kaye was an American award-winning songwriter, musician, producer, author and publisher. His songs were recorded by top performers, including Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Perry Como, Elvis Presley and Dusty Springfield...
)
Work on Broadway
- The Fifth Season (1975) - musical - composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and lyricistLyricistA lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
External links
- Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet Amazon.com
- Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet Congregation Shaar Hashomayim