The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs - InterfaithFamily
The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs
By Nate Bloom
December 2006
Note: this article was updated, December 2012, with new information. You can find the additions throughout, clearly marked.
This article is updated and revised annually. Other versions can be found here: 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009 , 2010 , 2011 and 2012 .
Every year, in early December, the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) compiles a list of the 25 most popular holiday songs as determined by radio air play. The ASCAP list changes a bit from year-to-year. Every now and again, a new song makes the list. More often, a popular new version of an old Christmas favorite propels that old favorite onto the list and pushes another song off.
ASCAP's title, "holiday songs," might just be a better term than "Christmas songs," although most people would probably refer to these popular tunes (like "White Christmas" or "Let it Snow") as "Christmas songs."
Six years ago I was editing a site on famous Jews when I first saw the annual ASCAP holiday song list. I became intrigued about which of the songwriters on the list were Jewish.
Also, at that time, I was just getting seriously interested in the music of what is now referred to as the "Great American Songbook," that is, the popular songs and songwriters of the period 1920-1965, the period of the "great standards." (Most of the most popular holiday songs were written during this same period.)
First, I've reproduced the ASCAP list. Second, I've followed it up with detailed information on the Jewish background of writers of the songs. As you will see, 12 out of the 25 most popular songs were written or co-written by "verified" Jewish composers. I've followed this with a brief essay offering my theory on why so many holiday songs are written by Jewish composers.
Finally, I share a "bonus track" — a story about a famous Christian songwriter who wrote Hanukkah songs.
25 Most Popular Holidays Song of 2008 as Determined by Radio Airplay and Compiled by the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP)
Each song is followed by the writer and performer of the version that receives the most current radioplay.
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics
Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat "King" Cole
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Frank Sinatra
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Michael Bublé
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: Perry Como
Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS)
Performed by: John Mellencamp
Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
Performed by: Elvis Presley
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid
Written by: Donny Hathaway, Nadine McKinnor
Performed by: ASCAP has not named the top performer
"Winter Wonderland"
This is the second year in a row that "Winter Wonderland" has topped the list. While "Winter Wonderland" has appeared on the list since its inception, it owes its number one status to relatively new versions of the song by the Eurythmics, Air Supply and Jewel. 2007 was the first year “Winter Wonderland" headed the ASCAP list.
Richard B. Smith and Felix Bernard wrote "Winter Wonderland" in 1934 and it quickly became a hit for bandleader Guy Lombardo. In 1946, new versions by the Andrew Sisters and Perry Como helped make the song a perennial Christmastime favorite.
I know very little about lyricist Richard B. Smith (1901-1935) other than he was born in Pennsylvania, died young, and that "Winter Wonderland" was his only big hit.
Bernard (1897-1944) also died young, and there isn't that much biographical information available on him. However, last year I was able to verify that he was Jewish.
Bernard was born Felix Bernhardt in Brooklyn. In the 1920 census, Felix's father, Charles Bernhardt, lists his birthplace as Germany. Felix's mother, Anna, lists her birthplace as Russia (another government source says her maiden name was Zindel). Both his parents told the census taker that their mother tongue was Yiddish . Given that information one can safely assume that Felix Bernard was Jewish.
Charles Bernhardt was a professional violinist and Felix's early musical studies were with his father. Felix had a varied musical career. He toured as a pianist on the American vaudeville circuit and in Europe. He worked as a pianist for music publishers and eventually formed his own dance band. He also wrote special musical programs for leading singers of his day, including Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor , Al Jolson, and Nora Bayes (all of whom were Jewish).
In 1919, he had his first major hit as the co-composer of the music for "Dardanella." Some sources say that it was the first tune to sell a million copies on record. He wrote some other popular songs, but they are rarely played today.
Bernard is buried in a non-denominational cemetery in Los Angeles. His gravestone bears his original name (Felix Bernhardt) and the inscription on the stone simply describes him as a husband, son and brother.
Not long ago, a site visitor who declined to give his name posted the following comment on the 2007 version of this article. I've been dealing with the public via the web since 1999, and I've acquired a pretty good sense of when someone is making something up about being related to a famous person. This posting, repeated here, has the strong air of veracity. However, if the person who posted this info wishes to contact me at middleoftheroad1@aol.com , I would love to hear from you:
Felix Bernard (Bernhardt) was Jewish. He is my great-uncle (in-law) married to my great-aunt Lillian [nee Cooper (a German-Jewish last name)]. I frequently visited with her when in my early 20's. She told me about him. I also heard about him from my grandmother (Lillian Cooper Berndard's sister-in-law). In the early 1930's the Cooper family all lived together in a large apartment on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. The Cooper family included: Mrs. Cooper (widowed mother-in-law of Felix); Felix Bernard and his wife Lillian (Cooper daughter); Jesse Cooper (Felix' brother-in-law); Felix' brother-in-law Albert Cooper and his wife, young daughter & son. My father does remember his uncle Felix and has told me about him.
Update
Since this article was first written, I was able to conclusively verify that Bernard was Jewish.
"The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"
This song was written in 1945 by Mel Tormé (1925-1999) and Robert "Bob" Wells (born 1922) — both of whom are Jewish.
Tormé, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, is most famous as a jazz vocalist, but he did write about 250 songs, mostly with Wells. Tormé wrote the music for "The Christmas Song" and Wells penned the lyrics.
Ironically, this song was written in July, in the hot desert.
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
I don't know if either of the late songwriters Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin were Jewish. My guess is no.
Update
In the 2010 version of this article , I noted that Hugh Martin was a devout Christian. Sadly, Martin passed away in March, 2011, age 96.
"Sleigh Ride"
Composer Leroy Anderson wasn't Jewish, but lyricist Mitchell Parish (1900-1993) was.
Parish was born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky in Lithuania, but his family moved to Louisiana and settled in Shreveport when he was an infant. (I don't know if living in Louisiana inspired the name change to "parish" — the term used for counties in Louisiana.)
An odd sidenote I stumbled upon: Jewish actress Kitty Carlisle Hart (1910-2007), who once dated George Gershwin, was the granddaughter of Lousianian Ben Holtzman. Holtzman was the mayor of Shreveport, La., when Parish's family settled there in 1900. Holtzman, who was active in the Jewish community, was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War and was a gunner on the Merrimac, the first ironclad warship.
I wonder if Hart and Parish, who moved in the same New York show biz circles, ever realized their strange Southern connection?
Back to our story: Parish's family moved to New York City when he was about 6, and he went to college in New York. For decades he was a leading lyricist.
According to ASCAP the most popular recording of this song is the version sung by the Ronettes, the famous '60s all-girl singing group. The Ronettes version of "Frosty the Snowman," the number 16 song on this list, is also the most popular version according to ASCAP.
I wrote about Ronnie Spector , the lead singer of the Ronettes. I said that Ronnie, who was not born Jewish, often refers to herself as Jewish (although it is unclear if she formally converted).
"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
Back when I first wrote on the subject, I caught a newspaper reference to a university seminar in which one of the professors reportedly said that Fred Coots, co-writer of the song, was Jewish. I reported that Coots was Jewish. However, upon reflection, I am not sure that this newspaper source is unimpeachable and haven't been able to find a reliable independent source that confirms the newspaper's information.
Update
In the 2010 version of this article , I reported that I had confirmed, through newspaper and personal sources, that Fred Coots was of non-Jewish, Irish-American background.
"Let It Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"
This song was written in 1945 by the Jewish songwriting team of lyricist Sammy Cahn (1913-1993) and composer Jule Styne (1905-1994).
In the '50s, probably half of all Americans would recognize the names of this songwriting duo. Previews of coming movies would sometimes say the film featured a Cahn/Styne tune — and that tune would usually end up high on the "hit parade."
Cahn won the Oscar for best song four times: once with Styne, and three times with composer Jimmy Van Heusen, who wasn't Jewish.
Cahn was born Sammy Cohen on the Lower East Side of New York, the son of Polish Jewish immigrants. He changed his name from Cohen to Kahn to Cahn — to avoid being confused with a popular entertainer of the day with a similar name and, then, a songwriter with a similar name.
Styne was born in London to Jewish parents from the Ukraine. His family moved to Chicago when he was 8. He is best known as a top Broadway and movie musical composer and the list of the great shows he wrote is staggering. Among them are Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Peter Pan, Bells are Ringing, Gypsy and Funny Girl.
Cahn and Styne also wrote "The Christmas Waltz." That tune has appeared in past years on the ASCAP top 25.
Update
In 2008 , for the first time, the version of this song by Canadian singer Michael Bublé is the most played version. In recent years Aaron Neville’s version was the most popular.
"White Christmas"
Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" is the historical biggie of popular Christmas songs. Its incredible success inspired scores of other songwriters to try and write a Christmas song.
However, this tune has been gradually slipping down the ASCAP ranks. It dropped two notches since 2007. I suspect that's because singer Bing Crosby, who did the original and still the most popular version of the song, has now been gone a long time.
Berlin, one of the most famous songwriters in American history, was born Israel Baline in what is now Russia, or possibly Belarus. He came to the States in 1891. His father is alternately reported to have been a cantor or rabbi but didn't work in either capacity when the family moved to America. His father's death, when Irving was 13, forced Irving Berlin to find work — like singing in the streets — just so he and his family could eat.
Berlin's early dire poverty fits the stereotype of the successful Jewish American songwriter — but not quite the reality. Most top Jewish American songwriters, especially those who worked in the Broadway theater, were from families that fit in an income range from upper working class to upper middle class. Also, most Jewish Broadway composers were American-born and not immigrants.
Berlin certainly never hid the fact that he was Jewish, even though he changed his name (he adopted "Berlin" because that was how his last name, Baline, was misspelled on the cover of the sheet music for his first published song).
Despite his rabbi father, Berlin was never a religious man, although he supported Jewish causes like the State of Israel. He was very much an American patriot — and "God Bless America" was a sincere statement of his beliefs. (The royalties from that song go to the Boys and Girls Scouts.)
For Berlin, personally, Christmas was not a happy time. His second wife, and the love of his life, was a Catholic. While Berlin remained a secular Jew, he allowed his children with his second wife to be raised as Episcopalians. One of their children, a son, died very young on Christmas day in the '20s.
Berlin celebrated Christmas with his wife and his surviving children when those children were young but was always reportedly sad on that day. He did not celebrate the holiday at all once his surviving children grew up.
Update
In 2009, I wrote a long article about Berlin and his interfaith marriage . It greatly expands on what is written above.
In 2012, another Berlin Christmas song, "Happy Holiday," made the list of the top 25 Billboard magazine holiday songs. Also in the 2012 version of this article , you can view a video of Irving Berlin, himself, singing.
"Jingle Bell Rock"
I don't know much about co-writers Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe beyond the place and dates of their births. This was the only hit for these songwriters.
"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer"
Johnny Marks (1909-1985), who was Jewish, was an interesting man, but his main claim to fame is writing three of the most popular Christmas songs of all-time.
Marks was born in a New York City suburb and graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., before going off to Paris to study music. Besides writing songs, Marks was a prominent radio producer. He had a heroic World War II combat record, winning the Bronze Star and four battle stars.
Marks also served as President of ASCAP and my friend, composer Ervin Drake, got to know him in that capacity (Drake served as ASCAP president some years after Marks). Drake confirmed to me that Marks was Jewish — and he helped me with a few other songwriters on this list that he knew personally and knew to be Jewish.
The full story of how "Rudolph" came to be is laid out in detail in this article . In short, Marks' brother-in-law, Robert May, who I think was Jewish — but I am not sure — invented Rudolph.
In 1939, May wrote a poem about a red-nosed reindeer named Rudolph while working as a copywriter for Montgomery Ward Department Stores. The poem became popular as a Montgomery Ward give-away and Marks turned it into a song. He then pestered a reluctant Gene Autry to record it — Autry finally agreed — and it was a hit of monumental proportions in 1949.
Update
In 2011, I wrote a long article, “Shining a Light on the Largely Untold Story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," for InterfaithFamily about Robert May and Johnny Marks. It contains biographical material not found in any other source. As noted in the article, Robert May was Jewish, too (at least by birth). Almost certainly, you’ll be surprised at the back story behind the creation of Rudolph.
"Little Drummer Boy"
I know that Katherine K. Davis, writer of the original 1941 version, was not Jewish, but I don't know about Henry V. Onorati or Harry Simeone, who adapted the song for the Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra in 1958.
"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"
I don't know much about Edward Pola, who wrote the lyrics for this 1963 hit, but the Jewish composer, George Wyle (1917-2003), was born Bernard Weissman in New York City, got his start playing piano in the Catskills and moved to Los Angeles in 1946 to write and conduct music for the Alan Young Radio Show.
He is also famous for writing the music to the theme song for Gilligan's Island, the endlessly popular '60s TV show. The lyrics to that tune were by Sherwood Schwartz, the show's Jewish creator.
Wyle's grandson is Adam Levy, a very talented guitarist who is best known for playing guitar in singer Norah Jones' band. He is also a composer and recording artist in his own right. His grandfather, he says, was an important influence on him.
Update
Early in December 2012, I corresponded with the daughter of Eddie Pola and she confirmed her father was Jewish. For more info, see the 2012 version of this article for a biographical sketch of Eddie Pola.
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"
Johnny Marks wrote this in 1958. See " Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," above.
"Silver Bells"
This song was written in 1951 for The Lemon Drop Kid, a Bob Hope movie.
Jay Livingston, who wrote the music, and Ray Evans (1915-2007), who wrote the lyrics, were a famous Jewish songwriting team with many big hits to their credit. Livingston (1915-2001) was born Jacob Levinson in a small industrial suburb of Pittsburgh.
Evans was born in 1915 in Salamanca, a small city not that far from Buffalo, N.Y. He went to the University of Pennsylvania, as did Livingston, and the two met when they joined the university dance band.
They formed their songwriting partnership in 1937 and it endured until Livingston's death. (By all accounts, these two guys were like brothers and Evans was absolutely devastated by Livingston's death.)
According to ASCAP the most popular version of "Silver Bells" is the one by saxophonist Kenny G, who is Jewish.
"l'll Be Home For Christmas"
Walter Kent, who wrote the music, and Buck Ram, who co-wrote the lyrics with Kim Gannon, were Jewish. "I'll Be Home," like "White Christmas," was first sung by Bing Crosby and released (1943) during World War II. Like "White Christmas," it hit a nerve among those separated from their loved ones and was an instant hit and holiday classic.
There is a legal dispute over this song. In short, Ram, who was born Samuel Ram, wrote a poem — later a song — with the title "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Maybe Kent and Gannon saw Ram's version before they wrote their song and maybe they didn't.
In any event Kent, and Gannon wrote the song we all know — which bears little relationship to the song Ram wrote, except for the title. But Ram felt he deserved a writing credit, sued and got a co-writing credit.
Kent (1911-1994) was born Walter Kauffman in New York. He was a practicing architect, an orchestra leader, and a composer. Most of his composing was for films. His other big hits were "The White Cliffs of Dover" and "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die." He is buried in a Los Angeles area Jewish cemetery.
Ram (1907-1991) was also born in New York. Very bright, he graduated from high school at 15 and eventually finished law school but did not practice.
His real fame came as a rock n' roll music writer and producer in the '50s, most notably with the Platters, a group he created. He is credited as the writer of such hits as "The Great Pretender," "Only You," "The Magic Touch" and "Twilight Time."
"Feliz Navidad"
Written in 1970, this is one of the few "newer" songs to break into the top 25. Its writer, José Feliciano is not Jewish.
"Frosty The Snowman"
I couldn't find any useful biographical material on writers Steve Nelson and Walter E. Rollins. However, there are articles that say following the success of "Rudolph," the duo figured they could also invent a new Christmas folkloric figure — and they did.
"A Holly Jolly Christmas"