Andy Razaf
b. Andrea Menentania Razafinkeriefo, 16 December 1895, Washington, D.C., USA, d. 3 February 1973. Related to the Queen of Madagascar but raised in the USA, Razaf was lyricist to several leading ragtime and jazz pianists of the late '20s and early '30s. Among his collaborations were those with Eubie Blake and James P. Johnson although he is best remembered for his work with Fats Waller. On the Broadway show KEEP SHUFFLIN' (1928), Razaf was co-lyricist with Henry Creams, and the music was by Waller and Johnson. Among the Razaf-Waller songs from this show was Willow Tree. Also in 1928 Razaf and Waller wrote Honeysuckle Rose and My Fate Is In Your Hands. The following year Razaf wrote for HOT CHOCOLATES, again with Waller, who this time was teamed with Harry Brooks. The hit of the show was Ain't Misbehavin', which was taken up by Louis Armstrong who joined the cast during its early days. Another song from the show, What Did I Do To Be So Black And Blue?, was also popular. Apart from this show, 1929 also saw another Razaf hit, I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling (music by Waller and Harry Link). With Blake, Razaf wrote Memories Of You for BLACKBIRDS OF 1930. He also wrote lyrics for In The Mood, the popular instrumental hit by Joe Garland, collaborated with Paul Denniker on S'posin' and wrote a seldom-heard lyric for the Edgar Sampson composition Stompin' At The Savoy. Apart from his song lyrics, Razaf also wrote and published poetry. From the '50s onwards he lived in California but worked less and less in music. 
Further reading: BLACK AND BLUE (THE LIFE AND LYRICS OF ANDY RAZAF), Barry Singer.