Leo Robin

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Leo Robin (6 April 1900 – 29 December 1984) was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Robin studied at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Carnegie Tech's drama school, and later worked as a reporter and as a publicist.

Robin's first hits came in 1926 with the Broadway production By the Way, with hits in several other musicals immediately following, such as Bubbling Over (1926), Hit the Deck, Judy (1927), and Hello Yourself (1928). In 1932, Robin went out to Hollywood to work for Paramount Pictures. His principal collaborator was composer Ralph Rainger, together they became one of the leading film songwriting duos of the 1930s and early 1940s, writing over 50 hits. Robin & Rainger worked together until Rainger's untimely death in a plane crash on 23 October 1942. Robin continued to collaborate with many other composers over the years, including Vincent Youmans, Sam Coslow, Richard Whiting, and Nacio Herb Brown.

Leo Robin officially retired from the movie industry in 1955. He is a member of the Songwriters' Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 1972. Robin wrote many popular songs, mostly for film and television, including "Louise", "Beyond the Blue Horizon", "Prisoner of Love", "Blue Hawaii" and Bob Hope's signature tune, "Thanks for the Memory".

Rabin died of heart failure in Woodland Hills, California at the age of 84 and was interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Leo Robin collaborated with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Oscar winning song "Thanks for the Memory", famously sung by Bob Hope in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938.

[edit] Work on Broadway

Hit the Deck (1927) - musical - co-lyricist
Allez-oop (1927) - revue - lyricist
Just Fancy (1927) - musical - lyricist
Hello Yourself (1928) - musical - lyricist
Tattle Tales (1933) - revue - contributing lyricist
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (musical) (1949) - musical - lyricist
The Girl in Pink Tights (1954) - musical - lyricist
Lorelei (Gentlemen Still Prefer Blondes) (1974) - musical - lyricist

Posthumous credits or shows in which pre-written songs by Leo Robin were featured include:

Maurice Chevalier in an evening of Songs and Impressions (1955) - concert
The American Dance Machine (1978) - dance special
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine (1980) - revue - lyricist for "Louise", "Beyond the Blue Horizon", "Double Trouble", and "Thanks For the Memory"
Big Deal (1986) - musical - lyricist for "Love is Just Around the Corner"
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1995 revival)
Fosse (1999) - revue - lyricist for "Got No Room for Mr. Gloom"