Lyricist, Songwriter. One of Tin Pan Alley's greatest songwriters, he wrote the lyrics for such enduring standards as "Ain't We Got Fun?," "Carolina in the Morning," "Toot Toot Tootsie," "I'll See You in My Dreams," "It Had to Be You," "Yes Sir, That's My Baby," "Side by Side," "Love Me or Leave Me," "Makin' Whoopie," "My Baby Just Cares for Me," and "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Gustav Gerson Kahn was born in Koblenz, Germany and moved with his family to Chicago, Illinois when he was four. He began his musical career at 20 writing lyrics for vaudeville acts, notably Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor, then moved up to Broadway with such musicals as "Kitty's Kisses" (1926), "Whoopie!" (1928), and "Show Girl" (1929). In 1933, he settled in Hollywood, California and wrote songs for film musicals, primarily with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Kahn's chief collaborator was composer Walter Donaldson. Kahn was the subject of a highly romanticized biopic, "I'll See You in My Dreams" (1951), in which he was portrayed by Danny Thomas. He was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Kahn's title tune for the MGM film "San Francisco" (1936), co-written with Bronislaw Kaper, became one of San Francisco's two official songs in 1984.
Lyricist, Songwriter. One of Tin Pan Alley's greatest songwriters, he wrote the lyrics for such enduring standards as "Ain't We Got Fun?," "Carolina in the Morning," "Toot Toot Tootsie," "I'll See You in My Dreams," "It Had to Be You," "Yes Sir, That's My Baby," "Side by Side," "Love Me or Leave Me," "Makin' Whoopie," "My Baby Just Cares for Me," and "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Gustav Gerson Kahn was born in Koblenz, Germany and moved with his family to Chicago, Illinois when he was four. He began his musical career at 20 writing lyrics for vaudeville acts, notably Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor, then moved up to Broadway with such musicals as "Kitty's Kisses" (1926), "Whoopie!" (1928), and "Show Girl" (1929). In 1933, he settled in Hollywood, California and wrote songs for film musicals, primarily with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Kahn's chief collaborator was composer Walter Donaldson. Kahn was the subject of a highly romanticized biopic, "I'll See You in My Dreams" (1951), in which he was portrayed by Danny Thomas. He was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Kahn's title tune for the MGM film "San Francisco" (1936), co-written with Bronislaw Kaper, became one of San Francisco's two official songs in 1984.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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