Roy C. Bennett

Roy C. Bennett (born August 12, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American songwriter.

Related Topics:
August 12 - 1918 - Brooklyn, New York - American - Songwriter

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Born into an Eastern European immigrant family, as a young boy growing up in Brooklyn he befriended a newly arrived neighbor by the name of Sid Tepper. Their mutual interest in music led to a highly successful music collaboration that spanned more than twenty-five years.

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Roy Bennett graduated from Brooklyn's Thomas Jefferson High School then studied music at City College of New York. Although blessed with a good singing voice he chose to pursue his lifelong interest in writing lyrics. However, his career plans were interrupted by World War II when he served with the United States Army Air Force. After the war he joined ASCAP and worked as a staff writer for Mills Music Inc. (now EMI Mills Music Inc.)

Related Topics:
City College of New York - World War II - United States Army Air Force - ASCAP - EMI Mills Music Inc.

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Partnered with Sid Tepper, between 1945 and 1970 Bennett had close to three hundred musical compositions published. In 1948 they wrote "Red Roses For A Blue Lady" first recorded by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians and was a No.3 hit single for vocalist Vaughn Monroe. The song has been recorded by others such as Vic Dana, Eddy Arnold and Andy Williams. Bennett and Tepper scored big again in 1951 when Rosemary Clooney recorded their composition "Suzy Snowflake."

Related Topics:
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians - Single - Vaughn Monroe - Vic Dana - Eddy Arnold - Andy Williams - Rosemary Clooney

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In 1955 they had a flood of hits that included "Let Me Go, Lover" which was a No.1 hit for Joan Weber and would be recorded by numerous artists including Patti Page, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Hank Snow and Teresa Brewer. As well, that year their 1954 composition of "Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" was a top-10 hit for both Dean Martin and the Ames Brothers and the novelty song "Nuttin' For Christmas" by the Art Mooney band and singer Barry J. Gordon went to No. 6 on the music charts and was recorded by four other singers. In 1958, the popular singer and TV variety show host Perry Como had a top-10 hit with their "Kewpie Doll."

Related Topics:
Let Me Go, Lover - Joan Weber - Patti Page - Dean Martin - Peggy Lee - Hank Snow - Teresa Brewer - Naughty Lady of Shady Lane - Ames Brothers - Art Mooney - Barry J. Gordon - Perry Como - Kewpie Doll

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Other successful artists who recorded Bennett & Tepper songs include Tennessee Ernie Ford, Robert Goulet, Dinah Shore, Burl Ives, Eartha Kitt, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughn. While these songs were very important in the music world, they prospered significantly with the onset of Rock and Roll music. They wrote fifteen songs for British superstar Cliff Richard, including his biggest selling single ever, "The Young Ones" which was also used in Richard's 1961 motion picture of the same name and two decades later in the 1982-1984 UK television series with the same title, The Young Ones.

Related Topics:
Tennessee Ernie Ford - Robert Goulet - Dinah Shore - Burl Ives - Eartha Kitt - Les Paul & Mary Ford - Frank Sinatra - Sarah Vaughn - Rock and Roll - British - Cliff Richard - Motion picture - UK - Television series - The Young Ones

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Other pop music artists who recorded their songs include Connie Francis and The Beatles but most significantly are forty-two songs recorded by Elvis Presley that appear on a number of Presley's music albums and film soundtracks.

Related Topics:
Pop music - Connie Francis - The Beatles - Elvis Presley - Music album - Film soundtrack

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Their collaboration ended in the 1970s when Sid Tepper suffered a heart attack and retired to a place in Florida. Roy Bennett remained active, and published the "Choral Singer's Handbook" which still in print today. Fascinated by the desktop computer, he also helped create a software program called PowerMacros for WordPerfect.

Related Topics:
Heart attack - Florida - WordPerfect

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In 2002, Roy Bennett and Sid Tepper were honored at ceremonies in Memphis, Tennessee by Lisa Marie Presley for their contribution to her father's success.

Related Topics:
Memphis, Tennessee - Lisa Marie Presley

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