Cliff Friend
Cliff Friend was an influential American songwriter and pianist, born on October 1, 1893, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the son of a first violinist with the Woods Theater Orchestra and studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, initially aiming to become a concert pianist. However, a three-year battle with tuberculosis altered his career path. Friend ventured into vaudeville, where he met Harry Richman, leading to collaborations with notable figures such as Al Jolson and Buddy De Sylva.
Encouraged by Jolson, Friend moved to New York City and became a prominent member of Tin Pan Alley. He collaborated with leading songwriters like Lew Brown, Sidney Clare, Billy Rose, and Irving Caesar. Friend's first hit, "You Tell Her - I Stutter," was recorded by The Happiness Boys in 1923. Over the next 15 years, he co-wrote numerous successful songs, including "Lovesick Blues," "My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now," and "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down," the latter becoming the theme song for the Looney Tunes cartoon series.
Friend also contributed to Broadway, writing scores for productions like "Piggy" and "George White's Scandals of 1929." He joined the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1922, further cementing his status in the music industry. Cliff Friend passed away on June 27, 1974, in Las Vegas, Nevada, leaving behind a legacy of music that continues to resonate.
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