Ray Henderson
Ray Henderson, born Raymond Brost on December 1, 1896, in Buffalo, New York, was a prominent American songwriter and composer, renowned for his work in the popular music genre. He studied piano and composition at the Chicago Conservatory, which laid the foundation for his melodic style. Henderson moved to New York City, where he became a key figure in Tin Pan Alley, a hub for songwriters and music publishers.
In 1925, Henderson formed a successful songwriting team with lyricists Lew Brown and Buddy De Sylva. This trio, known for their contributions to the musical revues "George White's Scandals" and book musicals such as "Good News," "Hold Everything!," and "Follow Thru," became one of the leading songwriting teams of the era. Some of their most famous songs include "Bye Bye Blackbird," "The Birth of the Blues," "The Varsity Drag," "You're the Cream in My Coffee," and "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries."
After De Sylva's departure in 1930, Henderson continued to collaborate with Brown until 1933, after which he worked with other partners, including Ted Koehler, with whom he composed the musical "Say When" in 1934. Henderson also contributed to Broadway, with his last show being a revival of the Ziegfeld Follies in 1943, which ran for 553 performances.
Henderson's music has been featured in films, and his life was dramatized in the 1956 film "The Best Things in Life Are Free." He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, the same year he passed away from a heart attack on December 31 in Greenwich, Connecticut.
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