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Buddy DeSylvaAmerican songwriter, producer
Date of Birth: 27.01.1895
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Buddy DeSylva
George Gard 'Buddy' DeSylva, an American songwriter and producer, was born in 1895 in New York City. He grew up in California and graduated from the University of Southern California. His father, Aloysius J. De Sylva, was a well-known actor named Hal De Forrest.
Early Career
Buddy DeSylva's career began on Broadway in 1918 when he wrote his first songs. He later teamed up with Al Jolson and worked together on Tin Pan Alley, a famous street in New York known for its concentration of music production companies. In the early 1920s, DeSylva collaborated extensively with George Gershwin and together they created the jazz opera 'Blue Monday,' which is considered a precursor to Gershwin's famous opera 'Porgy and Bess.' DeSylva also worked closely with Lew Brown and Ray Henderson, forming a successful trio that became the inspiration for the biographical musical film 'The Best Things in Life Are Free' in 1956.
Achievements
In 1920, DeSylva joined ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) and served as one of its directors from 1922 to 1930. He later moved to Hollywood and became a producer at Fox Studios, working on films such as 'The Little Colonel' and 'The Littlest Rebel' in 1935, and 'Captain January' and 'Stowaway' in 1936. In 1941, DeSylva transitioned to the position of executive producer at Paramount Pictures and held this role until 1944. Throughout his career, DeSylva produced around 50 films, wrote approximately 20 screenplays, and worked on soundtracks for hundreds of movies.
Capitol Records
In 1942, Buddy DeSylva, along with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs, co-founded Capitol Records, which remains a well-known record label today.
Legacy
Buddy DeSylva passed away on July 11, 1950, in Hollywood at the age of 55. He was laid to rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
