Ted Koehler

Ted Koehler
Born	July 14, 1894(1894-07-14)
Origin	Washington, D.C., United States
Died	January 17, 1973(1973-01-17) (aged 78) Santa Monica, California, United States
Occupations	Lyricist
Instruments	Piano
Associated acts	Harold Arlen, Rube Bloom, Sammy Fain

Ted L. Koehler (July 14, 1894 – January 17, 1973) was an American lyricist.

Life and career

Koehler was born in Washington, D.C. He started out as a photo-engraver but was attracted to the music business, where he started out as a theater pianist for silent films. He moved on to write for vaudeville shows and Broadway, and he also produced nightclub shows. His most famous collaboration was with the composer Harold Arlen, with whom he wrote many famous songs from the 1920s through the 1940s.

In 1929, the duo composed their first well-known song: "Get Happy," the beginning of a partnership that would last most of his professional career. Arlen and Koehler's partnership resulted in a number of hit songs, including the familiar standards "Let's Fall in Love" and "Stormy Weather." Throughout the early and mid-1930s, Arlen and Koehler wrote shows for the Cotton Club, a popular Harlem night club, songs for big band jazz legend Duke Ellington and other top performers of the day, as well as for Broadway musicals and Hollywood films.

Koehler also worked with other composers, including Rube Bloom and Sammy Fain.

Koehler died in Santa Monica, California.

Songs

• "Animal Crackers in My Soup"
• "As Long as I Live" - music by Harold Arlen
• "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" - music by Harold Arlen
• "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" - music by Rube Bloom
• "Moon Over Dixie" - music by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra
• "Get Happy" - music by Harold Arlen
• "I Can't Face the Music" - music by Rube Bloom
• "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues" - music by Harold Arlen
• "Ill Wind" - music by Harold Arlen
• "I'm Shooting High"
• "I've Got My Fingers Crossed" - music by Jimmy McHugh
• "I've Got The World On A String" - music by Harold Arlen
• "Let's Fall In Love" - music by Harold Arlen
• "Sing My Heart" - music by Harold Arlen
• "Spreadin' Rhythm Around" - music by Jimmy McHugh
• "Stormy Weather" - music by Harold Arlen
• "When the Sun Comes Out" - music by Harold Arlen
• "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams" - with Harry Barris and Billy Moll

Work on Broadway

• Earl Carroll's Vanities of 1932 (1932) - revue - co-composer and co-lyricist with Harold Arlen
• Say When (1934) - Musical - lyricist
• Now I Know (1944) - Musical - lyricist

External links

• Ted Koehler at the Internet Broadway Database
• Ted Koehler at Find a Grave