Let's Begin

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"Let's Begin" is a popular song composed in 1933 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Otto Harbach. [1] It was written for the musical Roberta (1933) where it was introduced by George Murphy. [2] In the 1935 film version, the song was performed by Fred Astaire, Candy Candido and Gene Sheldon, with the band.

Jerome Kern American composer of musical theater and popular music

Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A Fine Romance", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "The Song Is You", "All the Things You Are", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Long Ago " and "Who?". He collaborated with many of the leading librettists and lyricists of his era, including George Grossmith Jr., Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Dorothy Fields, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin and E. Y. Harburg.

Otto Harbach American lyricist

Otto Abels Harbach, born Otto Abels Hauerbach was an American lyricist and librettist of about 50 musical comedies. He was Oscar Hammerstein II's mentor and believed that librettists should integrate songs into the plot. He is considered one of the first great lyricists, and helped raise the status of the lyricist in an age concerned more with music, costumes, and stars. Some of his more famous lyrics are for "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "Indian Love Call" and "Cuddle up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine".

<i>Roberta</i> 1933 musical

Roberta is a musical from 1933 with music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics and book by Otto Harbach. The musical is based on the novel Gowns by Roberta by Alice Duer Miller. It features the songs "Yesterdays", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "Let's Begin", "You're Devastating", "Something Had To Happen", "The Touch of Your Hand" and "I'll Be Hard to Handle".

Notable recordings

Anita ODay American jazz singer

Anita O'Day was an American jazz singer widely admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances that shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer". Refusing to pander to any female stereotype, O'Day presented herself as a "hip" jazz musician, wearing a band jacket and skirt as opposed to an evening gown. She changed her surname from Colton to O'Day, pig Latin for "dough", slang for money.

<i>Pick Yourself Up with Anita ODay</i> 1956 studio album by Anita ODay

Pick Yourself Up with Anita O'Day is a album by Anita O'Day that was released in 1956. O'Day sings with the Buddy Bregman orchestra and with Harry "Sweets" Edison.

Tony Bennett American singer

Anthony Dominick Benedetto, known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. He is also a painter, having created works under the name Anthony Benedetto that are on permanent public display in several institutions. He is the founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, New York.

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References

  1. Hollywood Movie Musicals - Page 164 1411697626 John Howard Reid - 2006 "Let's Begin" (music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Otto Harbach) sung by Fred Astaire and Candy Candido; danced by Astaire, Candido and Gene Sheldon
  2. "Internet Broadway Database". ibdb.com. Retrieved January 27, 2018.