Jimmy Kennedy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jimmy Kennedy
Background information
Birth name	James Kennedy
Born	(1902-07-20)20 July 1902 Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland
Died	6 April 1984(1984-04-06) (aged 81) Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Occupation(s)	Songwriter, lyricist

Jimmy Kennedy was a famous songwriter from Northern Ireland. He was born on July 20, 1902, and passed away on April 6, 1984. Jimmy was amazing at writing words for songs, also known as lyrics. He wrote lyrics for popular tunes like "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "My Prayer." He also worked with composers to create new songs. Over his 50-year career, Jimmy wrote around 2,000 songs! More than 200 of these became huge hits around the world. About 50 of his songs are still considered classic popular music today.

Growing Up in Ireland

Jimmy Kennedy was born in Omagh, which is in County Tyrone, Ireland. His dad, Joseph Hamilton Kennedy, was a policeman. As Jimmy grew up in the village of Coagh, he started writing songs and poems.

He found inspiration in the nature around him. He loved the view of the Ballinderry River. He also enjoyed seeing Springhill House and the many chestnut trees near his family's home. He even wrote a poem called "Chestnut Trees." Later, Jimmy moved to Portstewart, a lovely seaside resort in County Londonderry.

Jimmy studied at Trinity College, Dublin. After finishing college, he taught in England for a while. In 1927, he was accepted into the Colonial Service. This meant he would work as a civil servant in different parts of the British Empire.

Starting a Music Career

Jimmy Kennedy was waiting for his job posting to Nigeria. During this time, he decided to try songwriting. His first big success came in 1930 with a song called "The Barmaid's Song." A famous singer named Gracie Fields sang it.

Another lyricist, Harry Castling, introduced Jimmy to Bert Feldman. Feldman was a music publisher in London. Jimmy started working for him in a famous area called "Tin Pan Alley." In the early 1930s, Jimmy wrote many popular songs. These included "Oh, Donna Clara" (1930) and "My Song Goes Round the World" (1931). He also wrote the new lyrics for "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" (1933). The original tune was from 1907.

Famous Songs and Collaborations

In 1934, Jimmy's publisher, Bert Feldman, turned down his song "Isle of Capri." But a new publisher, Peter Maurice, took it on, and it became a huge hit! Jimmy then wrote more successful songs for Peter Maurice.

One of these was "Red Sails in the Sunset" (1935). He got the idea for this song from beautiful summer evenings in Portstewart, Northern Ireland. Other hits included "Harbour Lights" (1937) and "South of the Border" (1939). He wrote "South of the Border" with composer Michael Carr. Jimmy got the idea from a holiday postcard he received from Tijuana, Mexico.

Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr also worked together on several West End shows in the 1930s. One of these was London Rhapsody (1937). In 1939, Jimmy wrote the English lyrics for "My Prayer." The original music was by Georges Boulanger from 1926.

Wartime Hits and Later Successes

During the early part of the Second World War, Jimmy served in the British Army. He was in the Royal Artillery and became a captain. While serving, he wrote the popular wartime song, "We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line."

Other famous songs he wrote include "Cokey Cokey" (1945). This song is also known as "The Hokey Pokey" in some places. He also wrote the English lyrics for "Lili Marlene." After the war, his songs continued to be popular. These included "An Apple Blossom Wedding" (1947), "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" (1953), and "Love Is Like a Violin" (1960).

In the 1960s, Jimmy wrote "The Banks of the Erne'." His friend from the war, Theo Hyde (also known as Ray Warren), recorded it. Jimmy was also a supporter of the Castlebar International Song Contest. He helped the contest from 1973 until he passed away in 1984. His involvement made the contest very special.

Awards and Recognition

Jimmy Kennedy received many awards for his amazing work in music. He won two Ivor Novello Awards. These awards celebrate great achievements in music. He also received an honorary degree from the New University of Ulster.

In 1983, he was given the OBE award. This is a special honor in the United Kingdom. After he passed away, in 1997, he was added to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. This means his contributions to music will always be remembered.

Later Life and Legacy

Jimmy Kennedy passed away in Cheltenham, England, on April 6, 1984. He was 81 years old. He was buried in Taunton, Somerset. He is remembered for his incredible talent and the many songs he brought to the world. He left behind two sons and a daughter.

Some of Jimmy Kennedy's Famous Songs

• "Blaze Away" (added lyrics to the Abe Holzmann marching song in 1931)
• "Barmaids Song"
• "Red Sails in the Sunset"
• "South of the Border"
• "We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line"
• "The Isle of Capri"
• "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)"
• "My Prayer"
• "Teddy Bears' Picnic"
• "Love is Like a Violin"
• "Cokey Cokey"
• "Roll Along Covered Wagon"
• "Harbour Lights"