Gus Kahn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gus Kahn
Gus Kahn
Background information
Birth name	Gustav Gerson Kahn
Born	(1886-11-06)November 6, 1886 Koblenz, German Empire
Died	October 8, 1941(1941-10-08) (aged 54) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Lyricist
Associated acts	Richard A. Whiting Walter Donaldson Isham Jones

Gus Kahn (born Gustav Gerson Kahn, November 6, 1886 – October 8, 1941) was a famous American songwriter. He wrote the words, called lyrics, for many popular songs. These songs are now part of what's known as the Great American Songbook. Some of his most well-known songs include "Pretty Baby", "Ain't We Got Fun?", "Carolina in the Morning", "Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo' Bye!)", "My Buddy", "I'll See You in My Dreams", "It Had to Be You", "Yes Sir, That's My Baby", "Love Me or Leave Me", "Makin' Whoopee", and "Dream a Little Dream of Me".

Life and Career of Gus Kahn

Gus Kahn was born in 1886 in Bruschied, Germany. His parents were Theresa (Mayer) and Isaac Kahn. His family moved to the United States and settled in Chicago in 1890. After finishing high school, he worked as a clerk. Soon after, he started a very successful career as a songwriter.

In 1916, Gus Kahn married Grace LeBoy, who was also a songwriter. They had two children, Donald and Irene.

Early Songwriting Days

When he first started, Kahn wrote special songs for vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts. In 1913, he began working with the composer Egbert Van Alstyne. Together, they created several popular songs, including "Memories" and "Pretty Baby."

Later, Kahn started writing lyrics for the composer and bandleader Isham Jones. This partnership led to one of Kahn's most famous songs, "I'll See You in My Dreams." This song was so popular that it became the title of a 1951 movie about his life. The movie, also called I'll See You in My Dreams, starred Danny Thomas as Gus Kahn and Doris Day as his wife, Grace LeBoy Kahn.

Broadway and Movie Songs

During the 1920s, Kahn wrote songs for many Broadway shows. These included Holka Polka (1925), Kitty's Kisses (1926), Artists and Models (1927), Whoopee! (1928), and Show Girl (1929).

By 1933, Gus Kahn was mainly writing songs for movies. He worked for big film studios like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He wrote lyrics for films such as Flying Down to Rio, Thanks a Million, A Day at the Races, San Francisco, and Naughty Marietta.

Kahn worked with many talented composers and lyricists. His wife, Grace LeBoy Kahn, was one of them. He also collaborated with famous names like George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Harry Warren. His most frequent songwriting partner was Walter Donaldson. They became good friends. Their first song together was "My Buddy" in 1922. They went on to write over one hundred songs together!

Death and Legacy

Gus Kahn passed away in Beverly Hills, California, on October 8, 1941. He was 54 years old. He was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Kahn wrote a huge collection of songs that are still loved today. Because of his amazing work, he was honored by being added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. This was almost 30 years after he died. His son, Donald Kahn, also became a songwriter and musician. Donald passed away in 2008.

Some of Gus Kahn's most famous songs include:

• "My Buddy" (1922), with music by Walter Donaldson.
• "It Had To Be You" (1924), with music by Isham Jones.
• "Makin' Whoopee" (1928), with music by Walter Donaldson.

The movie I'll See You in my Dreams (1951) tells the story of Gus Kahn's life. Danny Thomas played Gus Kahn, and Doris Day played his wife, Grace LeBoy.

Gus Kahn's original papers and works are kept safe at the Great American Songbook Foundation.

Selected Songs

Here is a list of some of the many songs Gus Kahn wrote lyrics for:

• "I Wish I had a Girl" (1907)
• "Everybody Rag with Me" (1914)
• "Memories" (1915)
• "Pretty Baby" (1916)
• "So Long, Mother" (1917)
• "Cherry Blossom" (1917)
• "On the Road to Home Sweet Home" (1917)
• "Scouting in the U.S.A" (1917)
• "For the Boys Over There" (1918)
• "What Are You Going to Do to Help the Boys?" (1918)
• "For Your Boy and My Boy" (1918)
• "Give a Little Credit to the Navy" (1918)
• "It Might as Well Be You" (1918)
• "Put Your Hands in your Pocket and Give, Give, Give" (1918)
• "Tell the Folks in Dixie I'll Be Back There Some Day" (1918)
• "Your Eyes Have Told Me So" (1919)
• "I Can't Get Along Without You" (1919)
• "I'll Wait for You" (1919)
• "Ain't We Got Fun?" (1921)
• "Carolina in the Morning" (1922)
• "Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo' Bye!)" (1922)
• "My Buddy" (1922)
• "On the Alamo" (1922)
• "Swingin' Down the Lane" (1923)
• "Charley, My Boy" (1924)
• "I'll See You in My Dreams" (1924)
• "It Had to Be You" (1924)
• "When You and I Were Seventeen" (1924)
• "Sometime" (1925)
• "I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight" (1925)
• "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" (1925)
• "Ukulele Lady" (1925)
• "Let's Talk About My Sweetie" (1926)
• "Persian Rug" (1927)
• "Chlo-e" (1927)
• "Love Me or Leave Me" (1928)
• "Makin' Whoopee" (1928)
• "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)" (1929)
• "Goofus" (1930)
• "My Baby Just Cares for Me" (1930)
• "I'm Through with Love" (1931)
• "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (1931)
• "Guilty" (1931)
• "Thanks for the Pines" (1931)
• "Carioca" (1934)
• "San Francisco" (1936)
• "Waltzing in the Clouds" (1940)
• "You Stepped Out of a Dream" (1940)

See also

In Spanish: Gus Kahn para niños