Andy Razaf
Andy Razaf, born Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo on December 16, 1895, in Washington, D.C., was a renowned American lyricist, composer, poet, and vocalist. He was the son of Henri Razafinkarefo, a nephew of Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar, and Jennie Razafinkarefo (née Waller), whose father, John L. Waller, was the first African American consul to the Imerina kingdom in Madagascar. Following the French invasion of Madagascar, which resulted in Henri's death, Jennie fled to the United States, where Razaf was born.
Raised in Harlem, New York, Razaf left school at 16 to work as an elevator operator in a Tin Pan Alley office building. He soon embarked on a career as a lyricist, with his first song text penned at the age of 17. Razaf's early poems were published in the Voice, a newspaper of the "New Negro Movement," and he contributed to the Negro World newspaper of the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
Razaf is best known for his collaborations with Fats Waller, producing classics such as "Ain't Misbehavin'", "Honeysuckle Rose", and "(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue". He also worked with composers like Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson, and Don Redman. His songs were performed by notable musicians, including Cab Calloway and Benny Goodman. Razaf also recorded as a vocalist, often with jazz groups.
Throughout his life, Razaf was married multiple times and was recognized for his contributions to music by being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. He passed away on February 3, 1973, in North Hollywood, California, from renal failure at the age of 77.
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