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)
4671d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgetable |
sonsufu (908)
4769d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Other |
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Unforgettable |
MatsAhlund (1)
5197d ago
|
1 | Piano | Other |
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Weet dat ik van je hou |
Gridje86 (50)
5228d ago
|
5 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
dizneyprincess (11)
5232d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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Unforgettable |
tery-tery (34)
5272d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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60 funk riffs |
papahank (456)
5291d ago
|
20 | Piano | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
pmoo (1)
5309d ago
|
1 | Flute | Book |
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Unforgettable |
omidramak (1)
5331d ago
|
1 | Trumpet | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
solrebel (5)
5338d ago
|
2 | Piano, Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
hansilmi (35)
5361d ago
|
3 | Guitar | Transcription |
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Unforgettable |
jenneymarie (5)
5361d ago
|
2 | Piano | Original |
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Unforgettable |
laznivalter (1)
5362d ago
|
1 | Saxophone | Original |
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Unforgettable |
jennymichanek (3)
5368d ago
|
2 | Vocal | Original |
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Unforgettable |
hyoman (9)
5387d ago
|
1 | Saxophone | Book |
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a few good men |
papahank (456)
5407d ago
|
10 | Piano, Drum, Guitar, Trumpet, Saxophone, Bass | Original |
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Unforgettable |
bigmonster (9)
5418d ago
|
2 | Piano | Other |
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At Last (piano) |
skawzen7 (2)
5434d ago
|
4 | Piano | Other |
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evrey breath you tak |
snowdance666999 (7)
5440d ago
|
7 | Guitar | Other |
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every breath you take |
snowdance666999 (7)
5440d ago
|
7 | Guitar | Other |
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