Ray Gilbert
Ray Gilbert, born Raymond Gilbert on September 5, 1912, in Hartford, Connecticut, was a prominent American lyricist renowned for his contributions to film and music. He grew up in Hartford and later moved to Chicago, where he began his career by selling songs outside nightclubs. One of his early breaks came from entertainer Sophie Tucker. Gilbert's most celebrated work includes the Oscar-winning song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" from Disney's 1946 film "Song of the South," co-written with Allie Wrubel.
Throughout his career, Gilbert wrote lyrics for numerous films, including Disney's "The Three Caballeros," and collaborated with artists like Carmen Miranda, providing material for her movies and live performances. His work extended to translating and writing English lyrics for Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, contributing to the bossa nova craze of the 1960s with songs like "Dindi" and "Amor em Paz" ("Once I Loved").
Gilbert's songs have been performed by a wide array of artists, including Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Andy Williams. His notable compositions include "You Belong to My Heart," "Sooner or Later," "The Hot Canary," and "...and Roses and Roses."
In his personal life, Gilbert married actress and singer Janis Paige in 1962, and they remained together until his death on March 3, 1976, in Los Angeles, California. He was also the father of actress and singer Joanne Gilbert from a previous marriage. Ray Gilbert left behind a rich musical legacy that continues to resonate in the world of music.
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