Henry Robert Merrill Levan was an American songwriter, theatrical composer, lyricist, and screenwriter.
12 Facts About Bob Merrill
1.
2.
Bob Merrill was one of the most successful songwriters of the 1950s on the US and UK single charts.
3.
Bob Merrill was inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.
4.
Bob Merrill was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and raised in Philadelphia over his family's candy factory and soda fountain.
5.
Bob Merrill co-wrote the Moon Mullican song "You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry".
6.
Bob Merrill made his Broadway debut in 1957 with New Girl in Town, a musical adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie.
7.
Bob Merrill had theatrical success with the 1964 musical Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand, which introduced the standards "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade".
8.
Bob Merrill did not accept billing or credit for his additions to the score.
9.
Bob Merrill provided lyrics to "Loss of Love", the theme song composed by Henry Mancini for the 1970 Italian drama film Sunflower.
10.
Bob Merrill wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Prettybelle, starring Angela Lansbury and directed by Gower Champion, which closed in Boston during tryouts.
11.
Bob Merrill wrote the music and lyrics for The Prince of Grand Street, starring Robert Preston and directed by Gene Saks, which closed during its Boston tryouts.
12.
Bob Merrill was married to Dolores Marquez in 1964; they divorced and he married Suzanne Reynolds in 1976.