Warren, Harry

Warren, Harry (Salvatore)

(1893–1981) composer; born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Of Italian-American descent, he was completely self-taught as a musician and as a young man supported himself playing the piano in dance halls and movie houses. After writing songs in the 1920s for Broadway revues, he moved to Hollywood where from 1932 to 1957 he worked with such lyricists as Al Dubin and Mack Gordon on over 75 films including Forty-Second Street (1933) and Just for You (1952); his songs won three Oscars and more than 100 achieved national popularity, among them "We're in the Money" (1933), "Lullaby of Broadway" (1935), and "Jeepers, Creepers" (1938). Demand for his work declined during the 1960s rock era, but the Broadway musical hit of 1980, Forty-Second Street, used 17 of Warren's songs.