From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hugh Martin
Hugh Martin
Hugh Martin with the Ralph Burns Orchestra in 1956 (now available
on CD). Martin and Blane were twice nominated for the
Born August 11, 1914(1914-08-11) Academy Award for Best Song, for "The Trolley Song" in
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
1944, and for "Pass the Peace Pipe" (also co-written by
Died March 11, 2011(2011-03-11) (aged 96) Roger Edens) from Good News in 1947. Hugh Martin al-
so received four Tony award nominations, three for High
Genres Musical theater
Spirits (Best Musical, Best Book Author of a Musical, Best
Occupations Composer, vocal coach, playwright Composer and Lyricist) and one for the 1990 Meet Me in St.
Years active 1941–2011 Louis (Best Original Score).
Martin’s other film work included songs for the films
Associated acts Ralph Blane, Judy Garland Athena (1954) starring Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, and
Vic Damone, and The Girl Most Likely (1957) starring Jane
Hugh Martin (August 11, 1914 – March 11, 2011) was an Powell as well as the film version of his Broadway hit Best
American musical theater and film composer, arranger, Foot Forward which starred Lucille Ball.
vocal coach, and playwright. He is best known for his Martin collaborated with vocalist Michael Feinstein
score for the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me In St. Louis, in for a 1995 CD Michael Feinstein Sings The Hugh Martin Song-
which Judy Garland sang three Martin songs, "The Boy book, an album on which the then 80-year-old songwriter
Next Door," "The Trolley Song," and "Have Yourself a accompanied Feinstein on piano and sang a duet. On an
Merry Little Christmas." The last of these has become earlier CD Feinstein recorded the memorable Martin
a Christmas season standard in the United States and composition, "On Such a Night as This". He also released
around the English-speaking world. Martin became a an album of his music called Hugh Sings Martin on the
close friend of Garland and was her accompanist at many record label PS Classics, which drew from his catalog as
of her concert performances in the 1950s, including her a composer, lyricist, arranger and singer. The album was
appearances at the Palace Theater. released in conjunction with the Library of Congress.
Martin, a Seventh-day Adventist, spent much of the
Life and career 1980s as an accompanist for gospel female vocalist Del
Delker on her revival tours and in 2001 rewrote his most
Martin was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1914. He at-
famous song (with the assistance of Garland biographer
tended Birmingham-Southern College where he studied
John Fricke) as a more specifically religious number,
music[1] .
"Have Yourself A Blessed Little Christmas", which was
Martin wrote the music, and in some cases the lyrics,
recorded that year by Delker with the 86-year-old song-
for five Broadway musicals: Best Foot Forward (1941); Look
writer playing piano on the recording.
Ma, I’m Dancin’! (1948); Make a Wish (1951); High Spirits
(1964) (music and lyrics, with Timothy Gray); and Meet Me
In St. Louis (1989), a stage version of the film with an ex- Other
panded score by Martin and Ralph Blane. Martin was the subject of a songbook collection, The
Martin’s first Broadway credit was as an arranger for Songs of Hugh Martin published by Hal Leonard Publishing
the 1937-1938 musical Hooray for What! and was a vocal in 2008. He published his autobiography Hugh Martin -
or choral arranger for such later Broadway musicals as The Boy Next Door in October 2010 at age 96. Martin was
The Boys From Syracuse (1938–39), Too Many Girls (1939–40), a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Alabama
DuBarry Was a Lady (1939–40), Cabin in the Sky (1940–41), Music Hall of Fame and lived in Encinitas, California.
and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949–51), Top Banana
(1951–52), and Lorelei (1974). He was a vocal arranger for
Sugar Babies (1979–82). Death
As a performer, Martin appeared on Broadway in Martin died on March 11, 2011 in California, aged 96.
Hooray for What!, Where Do We Go From Here (1938), and
Louisiana Purchase (1940–41).
Ralph Blane was Martin’s songwriting partner for
most of his work, and the two recorded an album of their
best songs entitled Martin and Blane Sing Martin and Blane
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hugh Martin
References • Hugh Martin at the Internet Broadway Database
• Hugh Martin at the Internet Movie Database
[1] Holden, Stephen. "Hugh Martin, Composer of Judy • Hugh Martin at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
Garland Hits, Dies at 96". The New York Times. Persondata
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/arts/
Name Martin, Hugh
music/hugh-martin-composer-of-judy-garland-
hits-dies-at-96.html. Retrieved 12/16/11. Alternative
• Wendi Rogers (December 14, 2005). "Culture: ’Have names
Yourself a Blessed Little Christmas,’ Composer Hugh Short de- American composer, songwriter and
Martin and Singer Del Delker Recollect". Adventist scription vocal arranger
News Network. http://news.adventist.org/2005/12/ Date of birth August 11, 1914
culture-have-yourself-a-blesse-little-christmas-
Place of birth Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
composer-hugh-marti-a-siger-el-elker-
recollect.html. Retrieved 2011-03-21. Date of death March 11, 2011 (aged 96)
Place of
External links death
• Corliss, Richard. ’A Merry Little Christmas’:
Songwriter Hugh Martin Dies at 96. Time (Arts),
March 12, 2011. Accessed 03-21-2011
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hugh_Martin&oldid=466271856"
Categories:
• 1914 births
• 2011 deaths
• American musical theatre composers
• Songwriters from Alabama
• American Seventh-day Adventists
• Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees
• People from Birmingham, Alabama
• Disease-related deaths in California
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