Leonard Whitcup

Leonard Whitcup (October 12, 1903—April 6, 1979) was an American lyricist and music composer.

Whitcup wrote, or co-wrote, several songs in the 1930s and 1940s that were recorded by several famed musicians of the day, including Henry Busse, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, Woody Herman, Bing Crosby, and Paul Anka.

He frequently worked in collaboration with other songwriters, such as Walter G. Samuels, Max Rutchik, Teddy Powell, Chet Gierlach, Paul Cunningham, and Ted Lehrman.

Some of his top hits are "Fiesta" (1931), "True" (1934), "Infatuation" (1934), "I Couldn't Believe My Eyes" (1935), "Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle" (1935), "Bewildered" (1936), and "Rollin' Plains" (1937).

Early life and education

Leonard Whitcup was born in New York City, New York, on October 12, 1903, to Philip Whitcup (1878–1935) and Ethel Whitcup (1883–1962). He had a sister, Gwendolyn Whitcup Pickett (1909–1999).

Whitcup attended New York University and studied music with Broadway conductor Orville Mayhood and pianist David Saperton (son-in-law of Leopold Godowsky).

Career

Leonard Whitcup began his professional music career in the mid-1920s, writing music and lyrics for radio. He also performed with his trio, The Playboys.

During those years, Whitcup and lyricist Max Rutchik formed a vocal and composition duo named "Mac and Lennie". In 1924, the duo composed "Tune in on L-O-V-E" which was recorded by singers Al Bernard and tenor vocalist Billy Jones (Edison Records).

"Mac and Lennie", with Walter G. Samuels, composed "I Gotta Have You (Quiero Tenerte A Mio Lado)" which was recorded in New York on September 13, 1929, by The Midnight Airedales—Glenn Miller (trombone); Fud Livingston (clarinet, saxophone); Henry Whiteman, Maurice Goffin (violin); Rube Bloom (piano); Joe Tarto (bass); Gene Krupa­ (drums); Red McKenzie (vocals); and Red Nichols, Mickey Bloom, Tommy Thunen (trumpet).

Whitcup and Harry "Haywire Mac" McClintock co-wrote "All I Want Is 'Ittle Ootsie Oo", which was recorded in 1929 by Lou Gold And His Orchestra, with vocals by Irving Kaufman (Velvet Tone Records).

In 1931, Whitcup and Walter G. Samuels composed "Fiesta" with lyrics by Armin L. Robinson of Austria and Robert Gilbert of Germany. It was recorded by Germany's John Brigs Und Sein Jazzensemble on Kalliope Records.

"Fiesta" (also titled "Bianca") was recorded by many famed musicians, including:

• Henry Busse And His Orchestra (1931). In 1963, Busse's version was featured in Federico Fellini Italian film 8½.
• The British New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, conducted by Ray Noble and vocals by Al Bowlly (1931)
• California Ramblers, directed by Wallace Theodore "Ed" Kirkeby with Red Nichols (trumpet), Jimmy Dorsey (saxophone), Tommy Dorsey (trombone), and Adrian Rollini (piano, vibraphone) (1931)
• Durium Dance Ensemble with Arthur Lally (conductor) and Sam Browne (vocals) (1932)
• Original Rumba Orchestra / John Thorne (1933)
• Central America Marimba Band (1933)
• Louis Katzman's The Castilians (1937)

"True", a composition by Whitcup and Walter G. Samuels was recorded by Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians (1934), Jack Payne And His Band (1934), Al Bowlly (1934), and Chick Webb And His Orchestra (1934, with vocals by Taft Jordan).

"I Couldn't Believe My Eyes", co-written by Whitcup, Walter G. Samuels, and Teddy Powell, was recorded in 1935 by Julius La Rosa.

In 1936, Whitcup and Powell wrote the song "Bewildered", which was recorded in 1938 by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, and Mildred Bailey. The song reached fame when it was covered in 1948 by the Red Miller Trio, and also by Amos Milburn. Both versions reached number 1 on the R&B chart in 1948. In 1949, Billy Eckstinerecorded a version that was conducted by Hugo Winterhalter. In 1959, "Bewildered" was covered by James Brown and the Famous Flames in doo-wop style with vocalists Louis Madison, Bobby Bennett, Baby Lloyd Stallworth, and Johnny Terry.

In 1937, Whitcup, Powell, and Samuels wrote "Heaven Help This Heart of Mine" for Frank Hummert and Anne Hummert's soap opera Backstage Wife. Later, it was also recorded by Mildred Bailey (1937) and Buddy Clark.

Another of Whitcup's famous compositions is "From the Vine Came the Grape", which he co-wrote with Paul Cunningham in the early 1950s. In 1953, it was recorded by The Hilltoppers Featuring the singer Jimmy Sacca (Dot Records). On December 10, 1953, British musicians Frankie Vaughan with Geoff Love and His Orchestra recorded a version on His Master's Voice Records. Also in 1953, it was recorded by Bud Roman on Tops Records. The best-selling version of the song was released in 1954 by the American vocal trio The Gaylords (Bill Christ, Bonaldo "Burt" Bonaldi, and Don Rea). The Gaylords also made an Italian version of the song.

"From the Vine Came the Grape" was also recorded by Ralph Flanagan And His Orchestra; Stuart Foster; The Brigadiers (Loren Becker and Enoch Light); Harry Dawson With Wally Stott And His Orchestra; and The Three Lads With The Lloyd Sly Quartette.

From the mid-1930s to 1977, Whitcup wrote popular songs and special material for vaudeville, revues, and the television series The Soupy Sales Show.

During the Second World War, Whitcup wrote a series of patriotic songs, including "I Am an American," which was made the official song for the national holiday proclaimed for May 18 by then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Canada adapted the song for Canadian use calling it "I Am a Canadian."

Whitcup also wrote a few songs with Earl Wilson Jr. (son of journalist Earl Wilson). One of the songs that emerged from their partnership was "Kissin' on the Phone," which was recorded by Paul Anka in 1961. Another was "It Happened Last Night," which was recorded in 1962 by Connie Francis.

In 1968, Whitcup co-wrote "The Sunshine of Love" with Chet Gierlach and Bob Thiele, which was recorded by Louis Armstrong.

Other musicians who recorded and performed Whitcup's songs at some point include Billie Holiday; Ted Mack And His Orchestra; Dick Robertson And His Orchestra; Larry Clinton And His Orchestra; Joe Loss And His Band; Kay Kyser And His Orchestra; Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra; and Carolyn Clarke with Russ Morgan And His Orchestra.

More recordings

"Frenesi" (co-written with Alberto Dominguez)

• Ginny Simms (1940)
• Woody Herman (1940)
• Xavier Cugat (1940)
• Carroll Gibbons (1941)
• Artie Shaw (1943)
• The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (1952)
• Glenn Miller (1954)
• Buddy Collette (1956)
• Bobby Byrne (1959)
• Lou Donaldson (1964)

"Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle" (co-written with Walter G. Samuels and Teddy Powell)

• Tex Ritter
• Riley Puckett (1940)
• Gene Autry (1950)
• The Ray-O-Vacs (1951)
• Bing Crosby
• Laureanne Lemay (1959)
• Ambrose And His Orchestra
• John Charles Thomas
• The Ramrods (1961)

"Blazin' the Trail"

• Patsy Montana And The Prairie Ramblers (1936)
• Ray Noble And His Orchestra (1936)
• Brita Borg (1953)

"March Winds And April Showers" (co-written with Walter G. Samuels and Teddy Powell)

• Teddy Joyce And His Orchestra (1935)
• Ruth Etting (1935)
• Abe Lyman And His California Orchestra, with vocals by Barry Wood (1935)
• Phyllis Robins (The B.B.C. And Vaudeville Star) (UK, 1935)
• Victor Young And His Orchestra (1935)
• Harlem Hot Shots (1936)

Movies

Whitcup also wrote music and lyrics for several motion pictures and television shows.

• "Goin' Fishin'" — musical comedy Blondie of the Follies (1932), starring Marion Davies, Robert Montgomery, and Billie Dove
• "Take Me Back To My Boots and Saddle" — comedy thriller The Border Patrolman (1936) starring George O'Brien and Polly Ann Young
• "Press Along Cowboy (To the Big Corral)" — Last Frontier Uprising (1947) starring Monte Hale, Lorna Gray, and Roy Barcroft
• "Fiesta". Henry Busse's version was featured in Federico Fellini Italian film 8½ (1968), starring Marcello Mastroianni, Anouk Aimée, and Claudia Cardinale.
• "From the Vine Came the Grapes" — Thomas J. Tobin's drama Fraternity Row (1977), starring Angela Aber and Scott Brown
• "March Winds and April Showers" — for the soundtrack for the television miniseries "Pennies from Heaven" (1978), starring Cheryl Campbell and Bob Hoskins
• "Frenesi" — Martin Scorsese's drama Raging Bull (1980), starring Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, and Joe Pesci
• "Heaven Help This Heart Of Mine" — Eddie Murphy's comedy Harlem Nights (1989), starring Murphy, Richard Pryor, and Redd Foxx
• "Give Me Your Kisses (I'll Give You My Heart)" — comedy Scenes from a Mall (1991), starring Bette Midler, Woody Allen, and Bill Irwin
• "Kuningaskobra (The Snake Charmer)" — Pekka Mandart's Finnish drama The Joneses and the President (1993)
• The Gaylords' version of "From The Vine Came The Grape" was in the soundtrack of T.J. Lubinsky's television movie "That's Amore! Italian American Favorites" (2008)

Video: All I Want Is 'Ittle Ootsie Oo - Lou Gold & his Orchestra (1929)

Personal life

In 1933, Whitcup married Sally Shaman (1904–2001).

Death

Whitcup died of a stroke in New York City, New York, on April 6, 1979. He was 75.