Bob Merrill

For the American professional wrestler, see Bob Merrill (wrestler). For the opera singer, see Robert Merrill.
Bob Merrill
Bob Merrill rehearsing for Breakfast at Tiffany's with Mary Tyler Moore and Richard Chamberlain (1966)
Bob Merrill rehearsing for Breakfast at Tiffany's with Mary Tyler Moore and Richard Chamberlain (1966)
Background information
Birth nameBob Merrill
Born(1921-05-17)May 17, 1921[1]
Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
DiedFebruary 17, 1998(1998-02-17) (aged 76)
Culver City, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Songwriter
  • theatrical composer
  • lyricist
  • screenwriter

Henry Robert Merrill Levan (May 17, 1921 – February 17, 1998) was an American songwriter, theatrical composer, lyricist, and screenwriter.[2] Merrill was one of the most successful songwriters of the 1950s on the US and UK single charts.[3] His musicals for the Broadway stage include Carnival! (music and lyrics) and Funny Girl (lyrics).

Merrill played an important role in American popular music, tapping out many of the hit parade songs of the 1950s on a toy xylophone,[4] including "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?", "Mambo Italiano", and "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake".[5]

Merrill was inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987. Other career accolades include five Tony Award nominations, as well as the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for his work on Carnival! in 1961.[6][7]

  1. ^ Vallance, Tom (1998-02-20). "Obituary: Bob Merrill". The Independent.
  2. ^ "The official site of American songwriter and Broadway composer". Bob Merrill. 1998-02-17. Archived from the original on 2012-12-26. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  3. ^ "Full US Top 100 50 Years Ago". Dave McAleer. 1962-01-27. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  4. ^ Haun, Harry. "Bob Merrill: The Music That Made Him" Playbill, August 25, 2011
  5. ^ "Bob Merrill" songhall.org, accessed March 24, 2019
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference AMG was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Carnival!" Playbill, retrieved October 10, 2017