782:
856:) had been a sheet music traveling salesman for Richmond-Robbins, Inc. — Maurice Aaron Richmond (1878–1965) and nephew, John J. (Jack) Robbins (1894–1959) — then Robbins-Engel, Inc., the Irving Berlin; then after his affiliation with Davis, Coots & Engel, Inc., he went on to become head of West Coast Operations for
182:
who used it on his radio show that
November and it became an instant hit. The morning after the radio show there were orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music and by Christmas sales had passed 400,000.
174:
In 1934, when
Gillespie brought him the lyrics to "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Coots came up with the outline of the melody in just ten minutes. Coots took the song to his publisher,
41:
828:. Their marriage license states that he was born in Brooklyn. Also, his World War I Draft Registration Card states that he was born in Brooklyn. However, an April 6, 1930,
796:
1301:
1296:
1286:
1281:
541:, music by Coots, words by Raymond W. Klages (1888–1947), March 23, 1925 – April 4, 1925 & September 4, 1922 – June 2, 1923
787:
276:
1167:
929:
707:
musical review, music and lyrics by Coots, November 9, 1926 – April 9, 1927 & August 18, 1925 – January 30, 1926
1291:
304:
265:
168:
178:, who liked it but thought it was "a kids' song" and didn't expect too much from it. Coots offered the song to
992:
883:
17:
982:
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438:
269:
713:, musical review, music by Coots, July 26, 1926 – October 30, 1926 & January 5, 1926 – July 10, 1926
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835:
395:
228:
8:
988:
879:
781:
205:
1916 (age 20) – first hit song published, "Mr. Ford You've Got the Right Idea," words by
1139:
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1143:
1117:
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163:. In 1934, Coots wrote the melody with his then chief collaborator, lyricist
160:
123:
112:
792:
788:
Entry at
Songwriters Hall of Fame (includes a complete list of compositions)
749:, musical review, additional music by Coots, May 20, 1924 – August 30, 1924
695:, musical review, featuring songs by Coots, July 2, 1928 – January 19, 1929
442:
427:
206:
179:
1060:
757:, musical comedy, featuring songs by Coots, May 17, 1923 – August 25, 1923
673:
660:
656:
646:
642:
626:
598:
569:
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385:
348:© Renewal September 27, 1961, R28248025, Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots
284:
218:
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585:
565:
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330:
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1914 (age 17) – began work with
Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. in New York
252:
156:
40:
351:© Renewal October 25, 1961, R283907, Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots
1163:
825:
175:
821:
193:
171:." The song became one of the biggest sellers in American history.
133:
91:
763:, musical review, music by Coots, July 6, 1922 – September 9, 1922
743:, musical review, music by Coots, October 15, 1924 – May 23, 1925
834:
article, "In the
Spotlight's Glare," states that he was born in
820:
Several biographies state that John
Frederick Coots was born in
719:, musical review, music by Coots, June 8, 1926 – August 21, 1926
824:. He married Marjorie Decker Jennings on February 18, 1924, in
342:© October 23, 1934, Class E published 44456, October 25, 1934,
737:, musical review, music by Coots, June 24, 1925 – May 7, 1926
731:, musical, music by Coots, August 6, 1925 – October 17, 1925
689:, featuring songs by Coots, July 15, 1929 – August 17, 1929
227:
gave Coots his first chance at writing a musical score for
1132:
Songwriters: A Biographical
Dictionary with Discographies,
1208:"The Story of the song 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,'"
1232:
1230:
955:
939:
891:
725:, music by Coots, November 24, 1925 – January 30, 1926
159:. He composed over 700 popular songs and over a dozen
701:, music by Coots, October 11, 1927 – November 5, 1927
1227:
1153:
923:
907:
1202:
814:
480:"I Still Get a Thrill (Thinking of You)," words by
268:" (over 4 million copies of sheet music sold) and "
683:music by Coots, November 26, 1929 – August 9, 1930
335:© September 27, 1934, Class E unpublished 93634,
1263:
1042:
167:, for the biggest hit of either man's career, "
505:"There's Honey On The Moon Tonight," words by
155:(May 2, 1897 – April 8, 1985) was an American
1026:
1000:
797:Discography of American Historical Recordings
469:© March 14, 1934, Class E unpublished 84751,
1126:
985:, Part 3, Musical Compositions, Third Series
780:
651:"When a Regular Boy Loves a Regular Girl"
241:a show which ran for two years on Broadway
237:commissioned Coots to write the songs for
39:
876:, Part 3 Musical Compositions, New Series
842:
244:1928 (age 31) – wrote "Doin' the Raccoon"
1187:Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories, 1890–1954,
1160:The New York Times Biographical Service,
1065:
1180:
1116:Vol. 16: Sep. 1988 – Aug. 1990 (1990);
1104:Vol. 15: Sep. 1986 – Aug. 1988 (1988);
1092:Vol. 14: Sep. 1984 – Aug. 1986 (1986);
1013:, July–December 1961, pg. 246, pg. 1706
803:
14:
1264:
665:"Up on Fifth Avenue Near Central Park"
532:
1168:University Microfilms International
24:
289:1985 (age 87) April 8 – died in a
186:
25:
1313:
1302:20th-century American songwriters
1297:Songwriters from New York (state)
767:
491:Davis, Coots & Engel (1930);
297:
293:hospital, after a lengthy illness
264:1934 (age 37) – wrote the songs "
1287:Broadway composers and lyricists
426:© April 5, 1935, Class E 47450,
1282:20th-century American composers
1245:
223:1919 (age 22) – Actor-producer
1114:
1102:
1090:
509:and Mack Davis, music by Coots
13:
1:
305:Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
266:Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
169:Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
1032:"In the Spotlight's Glare,"
983:Catalog of Copyright Entries
874:Catalog of Copyright Entries
7:
593:"How I've Missed You Mary"
10:
1318:
778:Internet Broadway Database
1136:Jefferson, North Carolina
277:The Rangers' Victory Song
247:1929 (age 32) – moved to
139:
129:
119:
102:
87:
72:
62:
52:
47:
38:
31:
793:J. Fred Coots recordings
259:Love Letters in the Sand
1292:Musicians from Brooklyn
693:George White's Scandals
603:"Right Boy Comes Along"
275:1940 (age 43) – wrote "
257:1931 (age 34) – wrote "
398:," words and music by
239:Sally, Irene and Mary,
211:A. J. Stasny Music Co.
48:Background information
1237:"Honor Roll of Hits,"
637:"Old Fashioned Gown"
606:"Our Home Sweet Home"
577:"Stage Door Johnnies"
539:Sally, Irene and Mary
192:1897 May 2 – born in
1210:The Kiwanis Magazine
1162:Vol. 16, Nos. 1–12,
1049:The Annual Obituary,
836:Keene, New Hampshire
804:Notes and references
396:Louisiana Fairy Tale
321:, publisher (1934);
153:John Frederick Coots
58:John Frederick Coots
33:John Frederick Coots
1140:McFarland & Co.
1134:by Nigel Harrison,
1051:Margot Levy (ed.),
989:Library of Congress
880:Library of Congress
867:Original copyrights
631:"Until You Say Yes"
612:"Something in Here"
976:Copyright renewals
848:Harry Engel (1894
741:Artists and Models
735:Artists and Models
590:"Do You Remember?"
517:Miller Music, Inc.
209:, music by Coots;
1011:15, Part 5, No. 2
621:"Clouds Roll By"
560:"Time Will Tell"
533:Selected musicals
428:Mills Music, Inc.
360:You Go to My Head
147:
146:
16:(Redirected from
1309:
1257:
1256:
1249:
1243:
1242:, March 18, 1950
1234:
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1103:
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1069:
1063:
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1040:
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1021:Inline citations
1014:
1010:
1004:
993:Copyright Office
969:
965:
959:
953:
949:
943:
937:
933:
927:
921:
917:
911:
905:
901:
895:
884:Copyright Office
861:
846:
840:
818:
784:
711:A Night in Paris
618:"We Are Waiting"
484:, music by Coots
445:, music by Coots
366:, music by Coots
311:, music by Coots
233:1922 (age 25) –
109:
82:
80:
65:
55:
43:
29:
28:
21:
1317:
1316:
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1308:
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1212:December 1956;
1207:
1203:
1190:Record Research
1185:
1181:
1158:
1154:
1131:
1127:
1113:
1112:
1101:
1100:
1089:
1088:
1078:H.W. Wilson Co.
1073:Biography Index
1070:
1066:
1053:St. James Press
1047:
1043:
1031:
1027:
1018:
1017:
1008:
1005:
1001:
973:
972:
968:, 1935, pg. 246
963:
960:
956:
952:, 1935, pg. 406
947:
944:
940:
936:, 1934, pg. 990
931:
928:
924:
920:, 1934, pg. 892
915:
912:
908:
904:, 1940, pg. 569
899:
896:
892:
864:
860:
850:Vienna, Austria
847:
843:
839:
819:
815:
806:
770:
717:The Merry World
687:Broadway Nights
609:"Peacock Alley"
580:"I Wonder Why"
535:
507:Haven Gillespie
471:Leo Feist, Inc.
453:Leo Feist, Inc.
439:For All We Know
404:Haven Gillespie
400:Mitchell Parish
364:Haven Gillespie
344:Leo Feist, Inc.
337:Leo Feist, Inc.
319:Leo Feist, Inc.
309:Haven Gillespie
300:
270:For All We Know
229:Friars' Frolics
189:
187:Career timeline
165:Haven Gillespie
150:
111:
107:
78:
76:
63:
53:
34:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1315:
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1035:New York Times
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863:
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831:New York Times
812:
805:
802:
801:
800:
790:
785:
769:
768:External links
766:
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634:"Wedding Time"
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389:
388:
368:
367:
355:
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349:
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340:
333:
313:
312:
299:
298:Selected songs
296:
295:
294:
287:
273:
262:
255:
245:
242:
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221:
203:
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188:
185:
161:Broadway shows
149:Musical artist
148:
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137:
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131:
127:
126:
121:
117:
116:
110:(aged 87)
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1074:
1068:
1062:
1058:
1054:
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1045:
1039:April 6, 1930
1038:
1036:
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994:
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986:
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869:
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859:
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851:
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832:
827:
823:
817:
813:
811:
810:
798:
794:
791:
789:
786:
783:
779:
775:
774:J. Fred Coots
772:
771:
762:
761:Spice of 1922
759:
756:
755:
751:
748:
747:Innocent Eyes
745:
742:
739:
736:
733:
730:
727:
724:
721:
718:
715:
712:
709:
706:
703:
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697:
694:
691:
688:
685:
682:
681:Sons O' Guns,
679:
678:
675:
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667:
664:
662:
658:
654:
650:
648:
644:
640:
636:
633:
630:
628:
624:
620:
617:
615:"Opportunity"
614:
611:
608:
605:
602:
600:
596:
592:
589:
587:
583:
579:
576:
573:
571:
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559:
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540:
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306:
302:
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292:
291:New York City
288:
286:
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274:
271:
267:
263:
260:
256:
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250:
246:
243:
240:
236:
232:
230:
226:
225:Eddie Dowling
222:
220:
216:
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208:
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201:
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184:
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177:
172:
170:
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154:
142:
138:
135:
132:
128:
125:
124:Tin Pan Alley
122:
118:
114:
113:New York City
106:April 8, 1985
105:
101:
97:
93:
90:
86:
75:
71:
68:J. Fred Coots
67:
64:Also known as
61:
57:
51:
46:
42:
37:
30:
27:
19:
18:J. Fred Coots
1253:"Obituaries"
1247:
1209:
1204:
1186:
1182:
1159:
1155:
1133:
1128:
1071:
1067:
1048:
1044:
1033:
1028:
1020:
1019:
1002:
981:
975:
974:
957:
941:
925:
909:
893:
872:
866:
865:
844:
829:
816:
808:
807:
760:
754:Dew Drop Inn
752:
746:
740:
734:
728:
722:
716:
710:
704:
699:White Lights
698:
686:
680:
538:
443:Sam M. Lewis
441:," words by
374:Remick Music
362:," words by
307:," words by
238:
213:, publisher
207:Ray Sherwood
180:Eddie Cantor
173:
152:
151:
108:(1985-04-08)
26:
1277:1985 deaths
1272:1897 births
854:Los Angeles
482:Benny Davis
414:Mills Music
406:, and Coots
83:May 2, 1897
1266:Categories
723:Mayflowers
705:Gay Paree,
557:"Kid Days"
473:, New York
430:, New York
339:, New York
253:California
157:songwriter
140:Instrument
130:Occupation
79:1897-05-02
54:Birth name
1240:Billboard
1218:0023-1975
1176:0161-2433
1164:Ann Arbor
1086:0006-3053
1061:153294307
966:30, No. 3
950:30, No. 4
934:29, No. 9
918:29, No. 9
902:35, No. 4
826:Manhattan
729:June Days
674:497894150
661:497282681
657:755811215
647:498526150
643:755811220
627:498831287
599:891128783
570:224102588
551:498526150
547:498812201
386:858643370
285:812404397
249:Hollywood
219:726927577
176:Leo Feist
1198:15252908
1192:(1986);
1170:(1985);
1148:38964064
1142:(1998);
1122:30326352
1110:30326307
1098:30457106
1055:(1985);
822:Brooklyn
668:"Jimmy"
586:20597875
566:39975531
525:22925119
519:(1938);
497:13168438
465:40509506
461:21070175
455:(1934);
422:27211518
416:(1935);
382:44053966
376:(1938);
331:11064929
327:21070165
198:New York
194:Brooklyn
134:Composer
96:New York
92:Brooklyn
1222:excerpt
852:– 1965
795:at the
776:at the
235:Dowling
1216:
1196:
1174:
1146:
1120:
1108:
1096:
1084:
1059:
1009:
964:
948:
932:
916:
900:
672:
655:
641:
625:
597:
584:
574:"Pals"
564:
545:
523:
495:
459:
420:
380:
325:
283:
217:
120:Genres
115:, U.S.
98:, U.S.
88:Origin
1007:Vol.
962:Vol.
946:Vol.
930:Vol.
914:Vol.
898:Vol.
809:Notes
143:Piano
1214:ISSN
1194:OCLC
1172:ISSN
1144:OCLC
1118:OCLC
1106:OCLC
1094:OCLC
1082:ISSN
1057:OCLC
670:OCLC
653:OCLC
639:OCLC
623:OCLC
595:OCLC
582:OCLC
562:OCLC
543:OCLC
521:OCLC
493:OCLC
457:OCLC
418:OCLC
378:OCLC
323:OCLC
281:OCLC
215:OCLC
103:Died
73:Born
858:BMI
279:";
1268::
1229:^
1166::
1138::
1080:;
991:,
987:,
882:,
878:,
659:,
645:,
568:,
549:,
463:,
402:,
384:,
329:,
251:,
196:,
94:,
1255:.
1224:)
1220:(
1075:,
1037:,
838:.
799:.
437:"
394:"
358:"
303:"
272:"
261:"
81:)
77:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
