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)
4550d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgetable |
sonsufu (908)
4647d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Other |
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Unforgettable |
MatsAhlund (1)
5075d ago
|
1 | Piano | Other |
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Weet dat ik van je hou |
Gridje86 (50)
5106d ago
|
5 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
dizneyprincess (11)
5110d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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Unforgettable |
tery-tery (34)
5150d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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60 funk riffs |
papahank (456)
5169d ago
|
20 | Piano | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
pmoo (1)
5187d ago
|
1 | Flute | Book |
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Unforgettable |
omidramak (1)
5209d ago
|
1 | Trumpet | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
solrebel (5)
5216d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
hansilmi (35)
5239d ago
|
3 | Guitar | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
jenneymarie (5)
5239d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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Unforgettable |
laznivalter (1)
5241d ago
|
1 | Saxophone | Original |
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Unforgettable |
jennymichanek (3)
5246d ago
|
2 | Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
hyoman (9)
5265d ago
|
1 | Saxophone | Book |
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a few good men |
papahank (456)
5285d ago
|
10 | Piano, Drum, Guitar, Trumpet, Saxophone, Bass | Original |
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Unforgettable |
bigmonster (9)
5296d ago
|
2 | Piano | Other |
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At Last (piano) |
skawzen7 (2)
5312d ago
|
4 | Piano | Other |
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evrey breath you tak |
snowdance666999 (7)
5318d ago
|
7 | Guitar | Other |
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every breath you take |
snowdance666999 (7)
5318d ago
|
7 | Guitar | Other |
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