Harry Akst, songwriter: reference sources (web and print); selected songs; recordings, videos; miscellany
Overview and Commentary Harry Akst
Akst's "early career was as a pianist and accompanist. For 4 years he was beside Nora Bayes. In 1916 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. While at Camp Upton, Akst befriended another young composer, Irving Berlin. Together, the two would create the # 2 recording from 1921, 'Home Again Blues'. By World War II, he again joined the war effort, this time as an accompanist and band leader for Al Jolson's overseas tour." (from The Songwriters Hall of Fame Biography of Akst)
Ed's. note: From 1919 to 1921 Akst was Berlin's "musical secretary." In The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin, both Berlin and Akst are credited with music and lyrics for "Home Again Blues" (Kimball and Emmet, p. 221). This is one of the few Berlin songs where writing credit is shared.
"Jolson's songwriter and accompanist, Harry Akst, was one of those who discovered Garland on the road and smoothed her way from vaudeville to a Hollywood contract." (From Camille Paglia, "Judy Garland as a Force of Nature," New York Times, June 14, 1998.)
Cafe Songbook Music-Video Cabinet: Selected Albums Featuring a Song or Songs by Harry Akst
Research Resources: Harry Akst
- DBOPM (Database Of Popular Music: song list; awards; hit songs; co-writers)
- Discogs.com (songwriting and arranging credits)
- Internet Broadway Database (Broadway productions and song credits)
- Internet Movie Database (brief biography, filmography, movie song credits)
- JazzBiographies.com (bio)
- New York Public Library (includes citations for books, recordings, sheet music, etc.);
- The New York Times (articles relevant to this songwriter)
- Songwriters Hall of Fame (includes biography and song list)
- Wikipedia (Harry Akst article)
- ASCAP Biographical Dictionary of Composers, Authors and Publishers, New York: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (1966 edition, entry pp. 7-8).
- Alec Wilder, American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950, New York: Oxford University Press, 1972 -- on "Dinah" (463) and "Am I Blue?" (466).
- David A. Jasen, Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song, New York: Routledge, 2003 (entry, pp. 6-7).
Questions
What is Harry Akst, songwriter?
Akst's "early career was as a pianist and accompanist. For 4 years he was beside Nora Bayes. In 1916 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. While at Camp Upton, Akst befriended another young composer, Irving Berlin. Together, the two would create the # 2 recording from 1921, 'Home Again B
How should Harry Akst, songwriter be cited?
Cite this page as "Harry Akst, songwriter: reference sources (web and print); selected songs; recordings, videos; miscellany," Cafe Songbook, https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songwriters/a_sws/akst_Harry.html
Which Cafe Songbook pages are related?
Also read "Am I Blue?" (https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songs/a/am_i_blue.html); "Dinah" (https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songs/d/dinah_m.html); "Guilty" (https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songs/g/guilty_m.html); Louis Alter, songwriter (https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songwriters/a_sws/alter_louis.html).
Cite this page: Harry Akst, songwriter: reference sources (web and print); selected songs; recordings, videos; miscellany, Cafe Songbook, https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songwriters/a_sws/akst_Harry.html