Goetz, E. Ray (Edward Ray), 1886-1954

Edward Ray Goetz (June 12, 1886 – June 12, 1954) was an American composer, songwriter, author and producer. He was a charter member of ASCAP in 1914, and was a director until 1917.[1] Goetz appeared in the films Somebody Loves Me (1952), The Greatest Show On Earth (1952) and For Me and My Gal (1942). He wrote the songs "Toddling The Todalo" and "For Me and My Gal". He co-wrote the 50 Million Frenchmen musical play with Herbert Fields and Cole Porter which was released as the 1930 Warner Brothers film Fifty Million Frenchmen.[2]

The Goetz family was originally based in Buffalo, New York. His younger sister Dorothy married Irving Berlin in 1912, but died from typhoid fever contracted during their honeymoon; she was 20 years old at the time of her death.

On 24 October 1918,[3] Goetz was married to actress Irène Bordoni. They were divorced in 1929.

His popular-song compositions included "Who'll Buy My Violets?", "Argentina," "Let's Be Lonesome Together," "So This Is Love," "Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight," "If You Could Care," "Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula," "The Life of a Rose," "Meet Me in the Shadows," "The Land of Going to Be" and "Boom."

Goetz wrote "The Gay White Way" and "Two Islands" in 1907, "The Prince Of Bohemia" and "A Matinee Idol" in 1910.[4] He also wrote "There's a Girl in Chateau Thierry" in 1919.[5]