Gorney, Jay, 1896-1990

Jay Gorney (1896-1990) was a composer, writer, producer and teacher.

From the description of Jay Gorney papers, scores and sound recordings, 1896-1993. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 79418844

Composer, writer, producer.

From the description of Reminiscences of Jay Gorney : oral history, 1958. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122362068

Composer, producer, writer and teacher, Jay Gorney was born Abraham Jacob Gornetzky in Bialystok, Russia on December 12, 1896.

In 1906 he and his family fled a pogrom and came to the United States, settling in Detroit, Michigan. Gorney attended the University of Michigan (B.A., 1917, LL.B., 1919), but after a year of practicing law, moved to New York to focus on his real love, songwriting. It was at this point that he changed his name legally to Abraham J. Gorney and professionally, to Jay Gorney. In the 1920s he wrote the scores for a number of Broadway shows including TOP HOLE, VOGUES OF 1924 and MERRY-GO-ROUND. In the early 1930s he wrote music for Earl Carroll's VANITIES, THE ZIEGFELD FOLLIES and the Shuberts' AMERICANA. For this last show he wrote perhaps his most famous song, the Depression anthem, BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?, with lyrics by E. Y. Harburg. During this period, Gorney also worked for Paramount Studios in New York, coordinating musical stories and ideas, and wrote songs with lyricist Howard Dietz.

In 1933 Gorney went to Hollywood to work at Fox Studios. It was here that he discovered Shirley Temple for whom, with Lew Brown, he wrote the song, BABY, TAKE A BOW, which she sang in the movie STAND UP AND CHEER. Gorney's greatest stage success was MEET THE PEOPLE, a revue he wrote and produced with Edward Eliscu and Henry Myers that opened in Hollywood in 1939 and on Broadway on Christmas night 1940. The revue was revived in 1943-1944 and again in 1955. In the 1940s Gorney worked in both California and New York. He was a composer and producer for Columbia Pictures, writing the scores for HEY, ROOKIE and THE GAY SENORITA, among others. He also wrote THEY CAN'T GET YOU DOWN, a musical play, and the Broadway musicals, HEAVEN ON EARTH and TOUCH AND GO, the latter with sketches and lyrics by Jean and Walter Kerr. Gorney also did some television work as a writer-composer-producer.

Gorney began teaching his craft of writing for musical theater beginning in 1948 when he and his wife Sondra created a musical play department at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School in New York City. They ran the department for three years producing five student productions. In 1952 they joined the faculty of the American Theatre Wing's professional training program where they produced ON THE WING, an original student musical. Gorney also taught writing for musical theater at Hunter College. In 1953 Gorney was subpoened by the House Un-American Activities Committee where he declined to answer any questions invoking both the Fifth and the Sixth Amendments. Instead he serenaded the Committee with his musical version of the First Amendment, a song he called THE BILL OF RIGHTS. For this he was blacklisted in the entertainment industry, fired from his contract at CBS-TV, and from his position teaching writing for musical plays at Hunter College.

Gorney continued to teach, however, even setting up his own school, the Jay Gorney School of Musical Comedy which offered classes and private lessons in his Manhattan home. He also continued to compose musical scores including THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD, the children's shows KRIS KRINGLE RIDES AGAIN and THE GEOGRAFOOF, and he wrote the music for the NBC-TV 1961 series THE FRONTIERS OF FAITH. Gorney received a number of awards including a special Tony Award for his dedicated teaching at the American Theatre Wing in 1962, a citation for 40 years of creativity from the Yale Drama School in 1965, the Songwriters Hall of Fame outstanding song award in 1976, and the ASCAP/Richard Rodgers Award for his outstanding contribution to the American musical theater in 1986. Jay Gorney died on June 14, 1990 at the age of 93.

From the description of Jay Gorney papers, 1896-1993. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122407713

Versatile composer, Jay Gorney (1896-1990), wrote for the stage, screen, and television from the mid-1920s through the late 1960s.

In a long and flourishing career, Gorney got his start by writing songs for Broadway shows and revues including, Earl Carroll's Sketch Book (1929), the Ziegfeld Follies (1931), and Merry-Go-Round (1927). In 1932, Gorney, working with lyricist E.Y. (Yip) Harburg, penned the music to the song that became a Depression-era anthem, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, as part of the revue, Americana. During the early 1930s, he also became involved with the motion picture industry when he was was hired by Paramount Pictures' New York office. In 1933, Gorney went to Hollywood, where he worked for the Fox and Columbia studios, adding Hollywood screenplays to his working repertoire and "discovering" Shirley Temple, who introduced one of Gorney's tunes, Baby, Take a Bow, with James Dunn, in the film, Stand Up and Cheer (1934). In addition to Harburg, Gorney collaborated with Henry Myers, Edward Eliscu, Sidney Clare, Howard Dietz, and Jean and Walter Kerr as lyricists in film and stage productions.

As a Jew who had experienced anti-Semitisim firsthand, Gorney was very aware and supportive of human rights and social justice issues and joined in with the artistic and intellectual community's group efforts to improve conditions in these areas. He was very active in several associations, including the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). It was this aspect of his life that produced songs like, the Bill of Rights, These Are The Times, and Are You Backing up your Commander-in-Chief? Gorney's involvement with these causes also led to his being called in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) in 1955 and being blacklisted, effectively ending his motion picture career. Gorney returned to New York in 1947 to work on a theater production and he also began to teach, becoming the chairman of the Department of Musical Playwriting at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School (1948-51). He ran his own Jay Gorney School of Musical Comedy and later taught for the American Theatre Wing's Professional Training Program, teaching sketch writing and leading a student production company that developed and performed student work. In the early 1960s, Gorney tried his hand at television writing, directing, and producing. Gorney died in New York on June 14, 1990.

From the description of Jay Gorney scores, 1916-1975 (bulk 1924-1961). (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 59995527

Jay Gorney (née A.J. Gornetsky, and later Daniel Jason Gorney) was born on December 12,1896 in Bialystok, Russia, eventually emigrating to Detroit with his family at age 6, after escaping a Russian pogrom. His musical abilities emerged at an early age during piano lessons. Eventually, he led his high school orchestra, and earned extra money on weekends by playing the piano for the local silent movie theaters.

He attended University of Michigan, working his way through by writing school songs and leading school bands. He also studied basic music theory, counterpoint and orchestration in the school's music department. Despite his musical talent, his father strongly urged him to study medicine or law. Gorney pursued and completed his law degree, but after one year of practice, he gave it up to pursue songwriting in the mid 1920s.

He enjoyed a long flourishing career, that started by writing songs for Broadway shows and revues including Earl Carroll's Sketch Book (1929), the Ziegfeld Follies (1931), Touch and Go (1949), Merry-Go-Round (1927), Meet the People (1941), and Sweetheart Time (1925). In 1932 Gorney, working with lyricist E.Y. (Yip) Harburg, penned the music to the tune that became a Depression-era anthem, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? as part of the revue, Americana .

During 1929-30 Gorney was hired by Paramount Pictures' New York office. In 1933, he went to Hollywood, where he worked for the Fox and Columbia studios, adding Hollywood screenplays to his working repertoire. Gorney's motion picture credits include, Jimmy and Sally (1933), Moonlight and Pretzels (1933), Wild Gold (1934), Lottery Lover (1934), Redheads on Parade (1935), The Heat's On (1943) and Hey Rookie! (1943).

Gorney is also responsible for introducing an American legend to the silver screen. In 1934 while walking through the lobby of the Fox-Ritz Theatre he noticed a little girl, "doing some jiggling dance steps" while waiting for her mother. The girl was Shirley Temple, who was offered a part in Stand Up and Cheer, singing one of Gorney's tunes, Baby, Take a Bow, (lyrics by Lew Brown) with James Dunn. The film was a hit and Temple was rewarded with a seven-year film contract. In addition to Harburg and Brown, Gorney collaborated with Henry Myers, Edward Eliscu, Sidney Clare, Howard Dietz and Jean and Walter Kerr in film and stage productions.

As a Jew who experienced and escaped anit-Semitisim as a child, Gorney was very aware and supportive of human rights and social justice issues and joined in with the artistic and intellectual community's group efforts to improve conditions in these areas. He was very active in several unions, including the Songwriter's Guild, Actor's Guild, and ASCAP. It was this aspect of his life that produced songs like, The Bill of Rights, and These Are the Times, setting to music words from our founding fathers, and Are You Backing up Your Commander-in-Chief? (undated), and General MacArthur's Message to the Russian Army (1942) which put MacArthur's tribute to the Russian Army's successful defeat of the Nazis during World War II to music. It also led to his being called in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1955, and being blacklisted along with many other talented performers in that era and effectively ending his motion picture career.

The Gorneys had returned to New York in 1947 to work on a theater production, and New York became their permanent home again. Gorney began to teach, offering classes in musical theater and songwriting. He became the chairman of the Department of Musical Playwriting at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School (1948-51). He ran his own Jay Gorney School of Musical Comedy, and later taught for the American Theatre Wing's Professional Training Program, teaching sketch writing and leading a student production company that developed and performed student work. His wife, Sondra Gorney, a talented musician in her own right, taught with him in these classes. He also worked with Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals in 1966.

In the early 1960s Gorney tried his hand at television, first writing, then directing and producing several episodes of religious programming for CBS-TV ( Look up and Live ) and NBC-TV ( Frontiers of Faith ). But by this time, the Parkinson's Disease which would claim his life had become apparent and began to limit his working abilities. Friends remember Gorney as a gentle man who was kind and respectful to everyone, but especially to children. He had a quickness of invention in song writing and was always willing to sit down at a keyboard to entertain others. Among his awards are a Tony award for teaching (1962), a Yale Drama School Citation (1965), a Songwriters Hall of Fame Outstanding Song Award (1976) and the ASCAP/Richard Rodgers Award (1986).

Gorney died on June 14, 1990 in New York City, of Parkinson's Disease. He was survived by his wife Sondra (to whom he was married for 48 years), and three children, (actress) Karen Lynn Gorney, Dr. Rod Gorney and Daniel Gorney.

Sources :

Bald, Wambly. Family Therapists. New York Post, July 9, 1950; p.18M.

Holden, Stephen. Obituary. New York Times, June 15, 1990.

Obituary. Variety, June 20, 1990.

Advertisements, New York Times, November 15, 1953; September 8, 1954.

Big Bands Database Plus, biographical information on Jay Gorney. Accessed 11/15/04 at: http://nfo.net/cal/tg4.html#Gorney

From the guide to the Jay Gorney scores, 1916-1975, 1924-1961, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)

Composer, producer, writer and teacher, Jay Gorney was born Abraham Jacob Gornetzky in Bialystok, Russia on December 12, 1896. In 1906 he and his family fled a pogrom and came to the United States, settling in Detroit, Michigan. While in high school, Gorney organized and led the school orchestra and played the piano in a local movie theater. In 1913, the year he graduated from high school, he became a U.S. citizen due to his father's naturalization. At the University of Michigan (B.A., 1917, LL.B., 1919) he studied music at the University's School of Music, organized and led a jazz band and wrote several of the school's musical shows. During World War I, he enlisted in the navy and led a band at the Great Lakes Training Center.

After a year of practicing law in Michigan, Gorney moved to New York to focus on his real love, songwriting. It was at this point that he changed his name legally to Abraham J. Gorney and professionally, to Jay Gorney. In the 1920s he wrote the scores for a number of Broadway shows including Top Hole, Vogues of 1924 and Merry-go-Round . In the early 1930s he wrote music for Earl Carroll's Vanities, The Ziegfeld Follies and the Shuberts' Americana . For this last show he wrote perhaps his most famous song, the Depression anthem, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? with lyrics by E. Y. Harburg. During this period, Gorney also worked for Paramount Studios in New York, coordinating musical stories and ideas, and wrote songs with lyricist, Howard Dietz.

In 1933 Gorney went to Hollywood to work at Fox Studios. It was here that he discovered Shirley Temple for whom, with Lew Brown, he wrote the song, Baby, Take a Bow which she sang in the movie, Stand Up and Cheer .

Gorney's greatest stage success was Meet the People, a revue he wrote and produced with Edward Eliscu and Henry Myers that opened in Hollywood in 1939 and on Broadway on Christmas night 1940. A number of performers who rose to stardom including Nanette Fabray and Jack Gilford, began here. The revue was revived in 1943-1944 and again in 1955.

In the 1940s Gorney worked in both California and New York. He was a composer and producer for Columbia Pictures, writing the scores for Hey, Rookie and The Gay Senorita, among others. He also wrote They Can't Get You Down, a musical play and the Broadway musicals, Heaven on Earth and Touch and Go, the latter with sketches and lyrics by Jean and Walter Kerr. Gorney also did some television work as a writer-composer-producer.

Gorney began teaching his craft of writing for musical theater beginning in 1948 when he and his wife Sondra created a musical play department at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School in New York City. They ran the department for three years producing five student productions. In 1952 they joined the faculty of the American Theatre Wing's professional training program where they produced On the Wing, an original student musical. Gorney also taught writing for musical theater at Hunter College.

In 1953 Gorney was subpoened by the House Un-American Activities Committee where he declined to answer any questions invoking both the Fifth and the Sixth Amendments. Instead he serenaded the Committee with his musical version of the First Amendment, a song he called The Bill of Rights . For this he was blacklisted in the entertainment industry, fired from his contract at CBS-TV and from his position teaching writing for musical plays at Hunter College.

Gorney continued to teach, however, even setting up his own school, the Jay Gorney School of Musical Comedy which offered classes and private lessons in his Manhattan home. He also continued to compose musical scores including The Happiest Girl in the World, an adaption of the music of Offenbach with lyrics by Harburg, the children's shows Kris Kringle Rides Again and The Geografoof and he wrote the music for the NBC-TV 1961 series, The Frontiers of Faith .

Gorney received a number of awards including a special Tony Award for his dedicated teaching at the American Theatre Wing in 1962, a citation for 40 years of creativity from the Yale Drama School in 1965, the Songwriters Hall of Fame outstanding song award in 1976, and the ASCAP/Richard Rodgers Award for his outstanding contribution to the American musical theater in 1986.

Gorney was married twice. In 1922 he married Edaleine Rodin with whom he had one son, Roderic. They were divorced in 1942. On January 27, 1943 he married Sondra Karyl with whom he had two children, Karen and Daniel. Jay Gorney died on June 14, 1990 at the age of 93.

From the guide to the Jay Gorney papers, 1896-1993, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Jay Gorney, born Abraham Jacob Gornetzky, was a composer and lyricist for theater, films, and television. Born in Bialystok, Russia on December 12, 1896, he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1906. After settling in Detroit, Gorney took piano lessons and improvised music for the local silent film theater. He studied at the University of Michigan in the literary department and took music classes on the side in harmony, counterpoint, and composition. He enlisted in the Navy during World War I and was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Later earning his LL.B degree, he practiced law for less than one year before deciding to move to New York City and work in musical theater.

Gorney’s songs started appearing in Broadway shows in the 1920s. He began collaborating with lyricist E.Y. (“Yip”) Harburg and in 1932 they scored their biggest hit in the show Americana with the song “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” This simple melody based on a Russian lullaby soon became the anthem of the Great Depression.

In the 1930s Gorney served as a musical advisor for films made by Paramount Pictures and Universal Films. Capitalizing on this success, Gorney and his family moved in 1934 to Hollywood where he had a contract composing for Fox Films. It was here where he wrote the hits “You’re My Thrill” and “Baby, Take a Bow,” the latter sung by child-star Shirley Temple, who had recently been discovered by Gorney dancing in the lobby of a movie theater. In 1939 Gorney worked as the administrator, composer, and coordinator of the musical revue, Meet The People, a talent-filled production of legendary forces, that was made into a movie starring Lucille Ball and Dick Powell in 1943.

Gorney eventually moved back to New York and in 1950 was hired by CBS television as a producer, writer, and composer. It was during this period that Gorney was attacked as having pro-Communist sympathies, based on meetings and committees he participated in while living in Hollywood. He was ousted from his new job at CBS. The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) called him to a hearing on May 6, 1953, where he sang his song “The Bill of Rights” and then took the Fifth Amendment when asked if he was a Communist. He was not jailed but was considered to be on a blacklist and lost a number of opportunities to work because of his association with Communist sympathizers.

Gorney died on June 14, 1990 in New York City of complications of Parkinson’s disease and pneumonia.

Sources: Gorney, Sondra K. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?: The Life of Composer Jay Gorney . Lanham, MD.: Scarecrow Press, 2005.

From the guide to the Jay Gorney Papers, 1932-1992, (Tamiment Library / Wagner Archives)