Irving Gordon

He was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, he studied violin, and after attending public schools in New York City, went to work in the Catskill Mountains at some of the resort hotels in the area. While working in the hotels, he took to writing parody lyrics to some of the popular songs of the day. In the 1930s, he took a job with the music publishing firm headed by talent agent Irving Mills, at first writing only lyrics but subsequently writing music as well.
After writing "Mister and Mississippi", he decided he enjoyed puns on state names, and some years later write "Delaware." He is perhaps best known for his song, "Allentown Jail", which was played by numerous other musicians, and told the story of a man who stole a diamond for his girlfriend and ended up in the Allentown jail, unable to make bail. Late in his life he won a Grammy for Song of the Year when Natalie Cole re-recorded her father's (Nat "king" Cole) earlier hit of "Unforgettable".
He is noted for his contribution in music and lyrics of the Americana genre.
He died in Los Angeles, California.


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Total 28 sheet(s) found, listing between 0 - 20.
Song | Added By | Pages | Instruments | Sheet Type | File |
Unforgetable |
Alexandar15 (21)
4665d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgetable |
sonsufu (908)
4762d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Other |
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Unforgettable |
MatsAhlund (1)
5190d ago
|
1 | Piano | Other |
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Weet dat ik van je hou |
Gridje86 (50)
5221d ago
|
5 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
dizneyprincess (11)
5225d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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Unforgettable |
tery-tery (34)
5265d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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60 funk riffs |
papahank (456)
5284d ago
|
20 | Piano | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
pmoo (1)
5302d ago
|
1 | Flute | Book |
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Unforgettable |
omidramak (1)
5324d ago
|
1 | Trumpet | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
solrebel (5)
5331d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
hansilmi (35)
5354d ago
|
3 | Guitar | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
jenneymarie (5)
5354d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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Unforgettable |
laznivalter (1)
5356d ago
|
1 | Saxophone | Original |
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Unforgettable |
jennymichanek (3)
5361d ago
|
2 | Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
hyoman (9)
5380d ago
|
1 | Saxophone | Book |
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a few good men |
papahank (456)
5400d ago
|
10 | Piano, Drum, Guitar, Trumpet, Saxophone, Bass | Original |
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Unforgettable |
bigmonster (9)
5411d ago
|
2 | Piano | Other |
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At Last (piano) |
skawzen7 (2)
5427d ago
|
4 | Piano | Other |
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evrey breath you tak |
snowdance666999 (7)
5433d ago
|
7 | Guitar | Other |
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every breath you take |
snowdance666999 (7)
5433d ago
|
7 | Guitar | Other |
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