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)
4657d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgetable |
sonsufu (908)
4754d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Other |
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Unforgettable |
MatsAhlund (1)
5182d ago
|
1 | Piano | Other |
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Weet dat ik van je hou |
Gridje86 (50)
5213d ago
|
5 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
dizneyprincess (11)
5218d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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Unforgettable |
tery-tery (34)
5257d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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60 funk riffs |
papahank (456)
5277d ago
|
20 | Piano | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
pmoo (1)
5294d ago
|
1 | Flute | Book |
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Unforgettable |
omidramak (1)
5316d ago
|
1 | Trumpet | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
solrebel (5)
5323d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
hansilmi (35)
5346d ago
|
3 | Guitar | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
jenneymarie (5)
5346d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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Unforgettable |
laznivalter (1)
5348d ago
|
1 | Saxophone | Original |
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Unforgettable |
jennymichanek (3)
5354d ago
|
2 | Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
hyoman (9)
5372d ago
|
1 | Saxophone | Book |
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a few good men |
papahank (456)
5392d ago
|
10 | Piano, Drum, Guitar, Trumpet, Saxophone, Bass | Original |
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Unforgettable |
bigmonster (9)
5403d ago
|
2 | Piano | Other |
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At Last (piano) |
skawzen7 (2)
5419d ago
|
4 | Piano | Other |
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evrey breath you tak |
snowdance666999 (7)
5425d ago
|
7 | Guitar | Other |
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every breath you take |
snowdance666999 (7)
5426d ago
|
7 | Guitar | Other |
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