Evelyn Danzig
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Danzig Levine was an American songwriter best known for writing the music for the popular song "Scarlet Ribbons
" with lyrics by her collaborator Jack Segal
.
, the sister of Allison Danzig
, a noted sports writer for The New York Times
from 1923 through 1967. She studied at the Academy of Holy Name Conservatory at Albany, New York, then piano and composition in New York with Sigismund Stojowski. She became a professional pianist and played on many radio stations - in the 1930s, she had her own radio program out of New York City
called Treble and Clef - and she composed music for theatrical purposes.
"Scarlet Ribbons" was written in only 15 minutes in 1949 at Danzig's home in Port Washington
New York after she invited lyricist Segal to hear her music. Recordings of the song by Juanita Hall
and Dinah Shore
made no great impression but in 1952 Harry Belafonte
, at his third session for RCA Records
, covered the song with an arrangement using only a guitar and male vocal group, and made the song a hit in concert. The four-year-old recording finally became a major success in 1956.
The song was both writers' most successful. Segal had other hits such as "When Sunny Gets Blue" but further collaborations with Levine, including "Where I May Live With My Love", "The Wonder of Wonderful You", "When a Warmhearted Women Loves a Cold-hearted Man" and "Midnight in Manhattan", did not have outstanding success.
She was married to Manuel W. Levine, who was the District Attorney
for Nassau County, New York
from 1959 to 1963, before beginning service as a State Supreme Court
judge in Mineola, New York
. Evelyn Levine died in 1996 in Los Angeles, California
.
Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)
"Scarlet Ribbons " is a popular song. The music was written by Evelyn Danzig and the lyrics by Jack Segal."Scarlet Ribbons" was written in only 15 minutes in 1949 at Danzig's home in Port Washington New York after she invited lyricist Segal to hear her music...
" with lyrics by her collaborator Jack Segal
Jack Segal
Jack Segal was a composer of popular American songs...
.
Life
Danzig, the youngest of six children born to Ethel and Morris Danzig (from Danzig), was born in Waco, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, the sister of Allison Danzig
Allison Danzig
Allison "Al" Danzig was an American sportswriter who specialized in writing about tennis, but also covered college football, squash, many Olympic Games, and rowing. Danzig was the only American sportwriter to extensively cover real tennis, the precursor to modern lawn tennis.Danzig covered every...
, a noted sports writer for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
from 1923 through 1967. She studied at the Academy of Holy Name Conservatory at Albany, New York, then piano and composition in New York with Sigismund Stojowski. She became a professional pianist and played on many radio stations - in the 1930s, she had her own radio program out of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
called Treble and Clef - and she composed music for theatrical purposes.
"Scarlet Ribbons" was written in only 15 minutes in 1949 at Danzig's home in Port Washington
Port Washington
Port Washington is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Port Washington, New York*Port Washington, Ohio*Port Washington, Wisconsin, a city*Port Washington , Wisconsin, a town...
New York after she invited lyricist Segal to hear her music. Recordings of the song by Juanita Hall
Juanita Hall
Juanita Hall was an American musical theatre and film actress. She is remembered for her roles in the original stage and screen versions of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals South Pacific as Bloody Mary and Flower Drum Song as Auntie Liang.-Biography:Born in Keyport, New Jersey, Hall received...
and Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
made no great impression but in 1952 Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
, at his third session for RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, covered the song with an arrangement using only a guitar and male vocal group, and made the song a hit in concert. The four-year-old recording finally became a major success in 1956.
The song was both writers' most successful. Segal had other hits such as "When Sunny Gets Blue" but further collaborations with Levine, including "Where I May Live With My Love", "The Wonder of Wonderful You", "When a Warmhearted Women Loves a Cold-hearted Man" and "Midnight in Manhattan", did not have outstanding success.
She was married to Manuel W. Levine, who was the District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Nassau County, New York
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
from 1959 to 1963, before beginning service as a State Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
judge in Mineola, New York
Mineola, New York
Mineola is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 18,799 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a Native American word meaning a "pleasant place"....
. Evelyn Levine died in 1996 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Sources
- Claghorn, Charles Eugene. Women Composers and Songwriters. A Concise Biographical Dictionary, Scarecrow Press, 1996.
- Grattan, Virginia L. American Women Songwriters. A Biographical Dictionary, Greenwood Press, 1993.
- Larkin, Colin. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 3rd edition, Macmillan, 1998.
External links
- Obituary: Evelyn Danzig, The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, August 8, 1996 (retrieved January 29, 2010)