Tom Southern, also known as Tommy or Thomas Southern,[1] was an actor in American film and stage productions[2] as well as a songwriter. He was a theater actor with the Lafayette Players.[3]
In 1933, he wrote several songs together with Lionel Hampton.[4] For a few years before 1937, Southern was absent from acting in films and theater;[3] the Pittsburgh Courier stated he "gave up acting as a career" around 1936 and became a journalist.[5] In 1938, he was the managing editor for the launch of the magazine Silhouette Pictorial.[5][6]
Around 1940, Southern partnered with drummer Lionel Hampton on a musical film project, titled From Spirituals to Swing, which was "accepted by the Paramount production department". The film featured Black spirituals and swing music.[2] It was said to have an "all-colored cast".[10] In 1940, Hampton announced that the film would release soon.[11] The movie then "fell through" that year.[1]
According to a copyright, Southern, Hampton, and Otis René wrote a song together for the feature, titled "I'd Be Lost Without You".[1] A record of the song was made at Victor Records in 1940,[12] with Hampton credited for the music and Southern for the lyrics.[13] Lionel Hampton and the King Cole Trio played on the record, with Helen Forrest singing.[12] After the recording, Otis René claimed he was not given a contract for the record and was left uncredited.[1] He stated he intended to sue.[12]
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