Robert Gilbert (musician)

Robert Gilbert
Born
Robert David Winterfeld

(1899-09-29)29 September 1899
Hamburg, Germany
Died20 March 1978(1978-03-20) (aged 78)
Minusio, Switzerland
Occupation(s)Composer, lyricist, singer

Robert Gilbert (born Robert David Winterfeld) (29 September 1899 – 20 March 1978) was a German composer of light music, lyricist, singer, and actor. His father was Max Winterfeld, a composer and conductor who went by the pen name of Jean Gilbert. His brother was Henry Winterfeld, an author of children's books. Sometimes described as a "divided author", his early depression-era poem "Stempellied" about living on the dole was set to music by Hanns Eisler. But "Am Sonntag will mein Süsser mit mir segeln gehen" ("On Sunday I'll go sailing with my Sweetheart") and "Das gibt's nur einmal" ("It Happens Only Once"), became his better known work.