Burton Lane

From Wind Repertory Project
Burton Lane

Biography

Burton Lane (2 February 1912, New York City – 5 January 1997, New York City) was an American composer and lyricist.

Lane was born Morris Hyman Kushner in New York City and studied classical piano as a child. At age 14 the theatrical producers the Shuberts commissioned him to write songs for a revue, Greenwich Village Follies. At some later time he became known as Burton Levy, and still later as Burton Lane.

He was known for his Broadway musicals, Finian's Rainbow (1947) and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965). He also wrote the music for the less remembered Broadway shows, Hold On to Your Hats (1940), Laffing Room Only (1944), and Carmelina (1979), the latter with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Lane mainly wrote music for films, such as Dancing Lady, Babes on Broadway, writing for more than 30 movies.

He was president of the American Guild of Authors and Composers from 1957 and for the next 10 terms, during which period he campaigned against music piracy. He also served three terms on the board of directors of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).

Lane's best-known songs include Old Devil Moon, How Are Things in Glocca Morra?, Too Late Now, How About You?, and the title song from On a Clear Day. He shared a Grammy Award in 1965 for Best Broadway Cast Album of the year (On a Clear Day You Can See Forever).

Lane is credited with discovering the 13-year-old Frances Gumm (Judy Garland) in 1935.


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