Ann Ronell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann Ronell
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Ann Ronell
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ann Rosenblatt |
| Born | December 25, 1905 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | December 25, 1993 (aged 88) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Lyricist, composer |
Ann Ronell was an American composer and lyricist. This means she wrote both the music and the words for songs! She was born on December 25, 1905, and passed away on her birthday, December 25, 1993. She is famous for her songs "Willow Weep for Me" and "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf."
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Ann Ronell's Early Life
Ann Ronell was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Her birth name was Ann Rosenblatt. She finished high school in Omaha in 1923.
She first went to Wheaton College. But she soon moved to Radcliffe College to study music more seriously. There, she learned from a famous composer named Walter Piston.
While in college, Ann wrote music for school plays. She also wrote articles and interviews for the college's music magazine. She became friends with the famous composer George Gershwin. He even hired her to play piano for his show Rosalie. It was George Gershwin who suggested she change her name to Ronell.
Ann Ronell's Music Career
Ann Ronell was one of the first successful female composers in Hollywood. She also worked in Tin Pan Alley, a famous area for music publishers.
Her first song in a show was in 1929, called Down By the River. In 1930, she wrote her first big hit, "Baby's Birthday Party." At first, no one wanted to publish it. But then Famous Music agreed, and it became popular.
In 1932, she wrote two more well-known songs: "Rain on the Roof" and "Willow Weep for Me." She dedicated "Willow Weep for Me" to her friend George Gershwin.
Moving to Hollywood and Disney Success
In 1933, Ann Ronell moved to Hollywood. There, she helped write Disney's first hit song. It was "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" for the cartoon Three Little Pigs. She wrote this song with Frank Churchill.
Ann Ronell was special because she often wrote both the music and the lyrics for her songs. Not many composers did both at that time.
She wrote songs for many movies, like Champagne Waltz (1937) and Blockade (1938). She also wrote the full music scores for films. These included The Story of G.I. Joe (1945) and One Touch of Venus (1948). She also worked on the Marx Brothers' movie Love Happy (1949).
Ann was even the musical director for the movie Main Street to Broadway (1953). She was nominated for awards for her work on The Story of G.I. Joe. She was nominated for Best Song ("Linda") and Best Score (with Louis Applebaum).
Ann Ronell's Legacy
Ann Ronell made important contributions to film music. Her music for The Story of G.I. Joe was special. It was the first drama movie to have a theme song sung over the opening credits.
She was also the first person to release a record of a film's music score. She did this with the movie Ladies in Retirement. In 1942, Ann Ronell became the first woman to write both the music and lyrics for a Broadway show. This show was called Count Me In.
Her most famous song, "Willow Weep for Me," has been recorded by many legendary singers. These include Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles. A version by Chad & Jeremy even became a top 20 hit in 1965.
Ann Ronell's Family Life
Ann Ronell married a producer named Lester Cowan. They did not have any children.
Ann Ronell's Famous Songs
Here are some of Ann Ronell's most well-known songs:
- "Baby's Birthday Party" (1930)
- "Rain On The Roof" (1932)
- "Willow Weep for Me" (1932)
- "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" (1933)
Ann Ronell's Work on Broadway
Ann Ronell also contributed to Broadway shows:
- Count Me In (1942) - She wrote both the music and lyrics for this show.
- The Crucible (1953) - She composed a "Lullaby" for this play.
- Blues in the Night (1982) - Her song "Willow Weep for Me" was featured in this show.
See also
In Spanish: Ann Ronell para niños
