Joseph Meyer, songwriter: reference sources (web and print); selected songs; recordings, videos; miscellany
David Butler was an early collaborator of Buddy DeSylva's in southern California where they had attended USC together. Just before De Sylva was about to leave for New York (in the early twenties at the behest of Al Jolson who was impressed by his lyric writing abilities), Butler introduced him to Joe Meyer (who had returned home from New York) and "desperately wanted DeSylva [sic] to hear a tune he'd written; DeSylva listened reluctantly, and within half an hour had provided a lyric and title: 'California Here I Come.' (Meyer subsequently went to New York too, and composed 'Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie,' 'If You Knew Susie,' and 'A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich, and You'" (Marmorstein, p. 39).
Ed.'s note: Others have suggested De Sylva wrote the lyric for "California Here I Come" after he had gotten to New York, inspired by his desire to return to California. He finally did go back six years later, making a very successful second career for himself as a movie studio executive. Also, Joslon,cutting inon the credits for the song and singing it repeatedly in his movies, proceeded to make it into a big hit.
Research Resources: Joseph Meyer
- Amazon (sheet music, etc. by Meyer)
- Songwriters Hall of Fame (biography and song list)
- DBOPM (Database Of Popular Music: song list; awards; hit songs; co-writers)
- Wikipedia article
- Internet Broadway Database (IBDB) (Broadway productions and song credits)
- Internet Movie Database (brief biography, filmography, movie song credits)
- The New York Times (articles about or related to the songwriter)
- New York Public Library (catalog entries for books, personal papers, recordings, scores, etc.)
- Indiana University Sheet Music Collection: Joseph Meyer
- ASCAP Biographical Dictionary of Composers, Authors and Publishers, New York: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (1966 edition, entry pp. 506-507).
- Gary Marmorstein, Hollywood Rhapsody: Movie Music and Its Makers, 1900-1975,
New York: Schirmer Books, 1997 (See below). - David A. Jasen, Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song, New York: Routledge, 2003 (entry, pp. 282-283).
Notes
- Gary Marmorstein Hollywood Rhapsody: Movie Music and Its Makers, 1900-1975 , New York: Schirmer Books, 1997
- Vintage sheet music for "Crazy Rhythm" music by Joseph Meyer Piano Solo arrangement by Cy Walter
Questions
What is Joseph Meyer, songwriter?
David Butler was an early collaborator of Buddy DeSylva's in southern California where they had attended USC together. Just before De Sylva was about to leave for New York (in the early twenties at the behest of Al Jolson who was impressed by his lyric writing abilities), Butler
How should Joseph Meyer, songwriter be cited?
Cite this page as "Joseph Meyer, songwriter: reference sources (web and print); selected songs; recordings, videos; miscellany," Cafe Songbook, https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songwriters/m_sws/meyer_joseph.html
Which Cafe Songbook pages are related?
Also read B. G. De Sylva (Buddy De Sylva), songwriter (https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songwriters/d_sws/desylva_bud.html); Cafe Songbook Glossary of Terms (https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/misc_pages/glossary.html); "Crazy Rhythm" (https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songs/c/crazy_rhythm.html); "My Honey's Lovin' Arms" (https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songs/m/my_honeys_lovin_arms.html).
Cite this page: Joseph Meyer, songwriter: reference sources (web and print); selected songs; recordings, videos; miscellany, Cafe Songbook, https://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songwriters/m_sws/meyer_joseph.html