Ralph Rainger
b. 7 October 1901, New York City, New York, USA, d. 23 October 1942. After studying classical music as a child Rainger won a scholarship to New York's Institute of Musical Art. Despite his academic success and enthusiasm, his family disapproved and persuaded him to study law. By the mid-20s, however, he had become a professional pianist, playing in dance and jazz bands. He was also in several pit orchestras in Broadway theatres and worked briefly with Paul Whiteman. While playing in a revue, LITTLE SHOW, in 1929, Rainger wrote Moanin' Low (lyrics by Howard Dietz), which was sung in the show by Libby Holman. After the success of this song, Rainger and Dietz continued their collaboration with Got A Man On My Mind and I'll Take An Option On You, and Rainger also wrote Breakfast Dance (lyrics by Edward Eliscu). In the early '30s Rainger was drawn to Hollywood, where he wrote When A Woman Loves A Man (lyrics by Billy Rose) and began a fruitful collaboration with Leo Robin. Many of their joint efforts were sung by Bing Crosby, among them Please, Love In Bloom, June In January, With Every Breath I Take and Blue Hawaii. The team's Thanks For The Memory won the Oscar after it was sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in BIG BROADCAST OF 1938. Robin and Rainger's film work included The Big Broadcast (1932), Little Miss Marker, SHE LOVES ME NOT, HERE IS MY HEART, THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1937, PALM SPRINGS, THREE CHEERS FOR LOVE, RHYTHM ON THE RANGE, COLLEGE HOLIDAY, WAIKIKI WEDDING, EBB TIDE, ARTISTS AND MODELS, GIVE ME A SAILOR, PARIS HONEYMOON, Moon Over Miami, TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME, My Gal Sal, FOOTLIGHT SERENADE, Coney Island, and RIDING HIGH (1943). Rainger was killed in a flying accident in October 1942 shortly before the last film waas released.