With Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), the melodic mind of
Warren gave us "We're in the Money," a song whose hopeful lyric and
catchy tune helped ease the pain of the Great Depression. With its
sequel, Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935), Warren earned an Oscar and gave
us "The Lullaby of Broadway," another unforgettable song in the growing
catalogue of hits.
And they just kept coming. "Jeepers Creepers," "You
Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," and "I Only Have Eyes for You" are
further examples of songs that are so successful that they are remembered
apart from the films for which they were originally written. While
some people only know a line or two of the lyrics, Warren's melodies
are ingrained in their minds. Warren and his partners wrote for all
of the major Hollywood studios and worked with some of their brightest
stars. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers sang and danced to his music
as did Judy Garland, Betty Grable, and Doris Day. Even Carmen Miranda
shook her fruit basket to the beat of Warren's meter.
His pairing with "Big Band" leader Glenn Miller produced
landmarks in both of their careers, with "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and
"Serenade in Blue" becoming bona fide classics.
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