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Paul Francis Webster
Paul Francis Webster was an esteemed American lyricist born on December 20, 1907, in New York City. He was the son of Myron Lawrence Webster and Blanche Pauline Stonehill Webster, and his family was of Jewish descent. Webster attended the Horace Mann School and later studied at Cornell University and New York University, though he did not complete a degree. Before embarking on a career in music, he worked on ships in Asia and as a dance instructor in New York City. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Webster's career as a lyricist began in 1931, with his first professional hit being "Masquerade," performed by Paul Whiteman in 1932. He gained significant recognition for his collaboration with Duke Ellington on the song "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" in 1941. Throughout his career, Webster was associated with major film studios like Twentieth Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, writing lyrics for numerous films, including those featuring Shirley Temple.

Webster won three Academy Awards for Best Original Song: "Secret Love" from "Calamity Jane" (1953), "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" from the film of the same name (1955), and "The Shadow of Your Smile" from "The Sandpiper" (1965). He was nominated for the award 16 times, making him one of the most nominated lyricists in history. His work also included writing the theme song for the 1967 "Spider-Man" television cartoon series. In 1972, Webster was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Webster's legacy extended to his family, with his son Guy Webster becoming a noted photographer of musicians and bands. Paul Francis Webster continued writing until 1983 and passed away on March 18, 1984, in Beverly Hills, California. He is buried at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California. His papers are archived at Syracuse University Libraries.
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