I FEEL A SONG COMING ON: The Life of Jimmy McHugh
Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2009. First Edition. Hardcover. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to revered English actor, comedian, musician, and writer Eric Idle on the front flyleaf, alongside a bookplate signed by Shipton as well. Accompanied by a letter of provenance and a special bookmark. Shipton interviewed Idle for his biography of singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson.
Idle (b.1943) is a founding member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python, as well as the parody rock group The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Spamalot.
This first biography of Jimmy McHugh (1894-1969) captures a lively and significant contributor to American songwriting. Creator of favorite tunes such as "I'm in the Mood for Love" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street", McHugh was a one-man history of twentieth-century popular music: in his prolific composing career, he wrote songs for Duke Ellington, Shirley Temple, Bobby Breen, Carmen Miranda, Deanna Durbin, Frank Sinatra, Ethel Waters, Adelaide Hall, and scores of other entertainers, and his last works were turned into smash hits by Pat Boone and Fats Domino.
Octavo: xv, [3], 272, [8] pp. with textual photographs. Original blue cloth binding, with gilt-stamped titles. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket. Fine / Fine. Item #78660
ISBN: 9780252034657
Price: $100.00