Harold Arlen was an American composer born Hyman Arluck on February 15, 1905, in Buffalo, New York. He learned to play piano as a youth and formed Hyman Arluck's Snappy Trio at age 15. In his early twenties, Arlen moved to New York City, working as a vaudeville accompanist and adopting his professional name. He published his first song, “Minor Gaff (Blues Fantasy),” in 1926 before scoring his first major hit, “Get Happy” (1929), with lyricist Ted Koehler. Their partnership produced popular standards, including “Let's Fall in Love” and “Stormy Weather.” Arlen wrote extensively for Broadway revues and Hollywood motion pictures. His collaboration with lyricist E. Y. Harburg yielded the score for The Wizard of Oz (1939), featuring the Academy Award-winning song “Over the Rainbow,” alongside 8 additional Oscar nominations throughout his career. In the 1940s, Arlen partnered with Johnny Mercer, composing hits such as “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive.” He later composed the score for the animated film Gay Purr-ee (1962). Arlen composed over 500 songs during his career and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1979. Shortly before his death, he adopted his nephew, Samuel Arlen, to manage his musical catalog and estate. Arlen died of cancer on April 23, 1986, in New York City.
