Walter Donaldson - History

History

Walter Donaldson was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a piano teacher. While still in school he wrote original music for school productions, and had his first professional songs published in 1915. The following year he had a hit with "The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady". After serving in the United States Army in World War I, Donaldson was hired as a songwriter by Irving Berlin Music Company. He stayed with Berlin until 1928, producing many hit songs, then in 1928 established his own publishing company. His company was legally known as "Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble, Inc", but all the publications had Walter Donaldson's name in large letters, and the legal name of the company in fine print.

Donaldson is primarily known as a composer, rather than as a lyricist. He published some 600 original songs. His biggest hits included:

  • "At Sundown"
  • "Carolina in the Morning"
  • "Don't Be Angry"
  • "Georgia"
  • "How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm? (After They've Seen Paree)"
  • "Kansas City Kitty"
  • "Little White Lies"
  • "Love Me or Leave Me"
  • "Makin' Whoopee"
  • "My Baby Just Cares for Me"
  • "My Blue Heaven" (lyrics: George A. Whiting)
  • "My Buddy"
  • "My Little Bimbo Down on a Bamboo Isle"
  • "My Mammy" (a huge hit for Al Jolson)
  • "That Certain Party",
  • "Yes Sir, That's My Baby"
  • "You're Driving Me Crazy"
  • "Sam, the Old Accordion Man"

Several of these songs were written with lyricist Gus Kahn.

At the end of the 1920s, Donaldson moved to Hollywood and worked composing and arranging music for motion pictures. His film credits include work on such pictures as Glorifying the American Girl, ], The Great Ziegfeld, Panama Hattie, Follow the Boys and Nevada.

Walter Donaldson retired in 1943 and died in Santa Monica, California.

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