Grant Clarke (May 14, 1891, Akron, Ohio – May 16, 1931, California) was an American songwriter.

Grant Clarke
Grant Clarke, 1918[1]
Grant Clarke, 1918[1]
Background information
Born(1891-05-14)May 14, 1891
Akron, Ohio, United States
DiedMay 16, 1931(1931-05-16) (aged 40)
California, United States
Occupation(s)Composer, songwriter

Clarke moved to New York City early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians. He began working on Tin Pan Alley, where he contributed music to films such as The Jazz Singer (1927), Weary River (1928), On with the Show (1929) and Is Everybody Happy? (1929).

He wrote the lyrics to the show Dixie to Broadway, and also contributed to the 1921 Ziegfeld Follies and Bombo. Later in his career he became a charter member of ASCAP and was successful in the music publishing business.

Clarke was the author of the lyrics to many popular songs of the 1910s and 1920s, among them "Second Hand Rose" and "Am I Blue?", working with composers such as George W. Meyer, Harry Akst, James V. Monaco, Al Piantadosi, Fred Fisher, Harry Warren, Arthur Johnston, James Hanley, Lewis F. Muir and Milton Ager.

Selected songs

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"Ragtime Cowboy Joe", which Clarke co-wrote with Lewis F. Muir

A list of Clarke's most prominent works:

References

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  1. ^ "New York Clipper". Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
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