James Brockman facts for kids

James Brockman (born December 8, 1886 – died May 22, 1967) was a talented American songwriter. He was born in Russia. When he was only about 9 or 10 years old, he bravely moved to New York all by himself. His birth name was Jacob Brachman. He later changed the spelling of his last name to Brockman. This was because people often mispronounced his original name. His family also adopted the new spelling.

James Brockman: A Songwriter's Journey

Starting a Career in Music

James Brockman began his career in the early 1900s. He worked as a comedian. He performed in vaudeville shows and musicals. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment. It featured many different acts, like singers, dancers, and comedians.

Brockman also became a business partner. He teamed up with James Kendis. Together, they formed the Kendis-Brockman Music Company. This company helped publish and promote new songs.

Writing Famous Songs

James Brockman wrote the words (lyrics) for many popular songs. One of his well-known songs is "Down among the Sheltering Palms". The music for this song was written by Abe Oldman. Oldman helped make the song famous. A big music publisher, Leo Feist, then bought the song. He encouraged the famous singer Al Jolson to perform it on stage.

In 1919, Brockman helped write another very famous song. This song was "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles". Years later, this song became special. It became the official anthem for the English football (soccer) club West Ham United. Also in 1919, he co-wrote "I'm Like a Ship Without a Sail".

Working in Hollywood

Later in his life, James Brockman moved to Hollywood. He continued his work as a songwriter for films. He even wrote the music for the 1929 movie called Happy Days.

James Brockman passed away in Santa Monica, California in May 1967. He was 80 years old. In 1970, he was honored for his work. He was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. This shows how important his contributions to music were.