16 Facts About Harry Revel

Harry Revel was a British-born American composer, mostly of musical theatre, working with various lyricists, notably Mack Gordon.

Harry Revel is seen as a pioneer of "space age pop".

Harry Revel was the son of Russian emigrants of Jewish heritage, Jacob Glaser and his wife, from Schrunden in Latvia, who had settled in England.

Harry Revel's older brother William Revel was a dancer, his younger sister Rene was a singer, and his youngest brother Sam was a concierge in London who later became a travel agent in the United States.

Harry Revel learned piano as a child, and studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London.

Harry Revel left around 1922 to go to Paris, where he joined a so-called Hawaiian Band, and toured Europe.

Harry Revel had his first song, "Oriental Eyes", published in Italy.

Harry Revel then joined a dance band, the New York Jazz Band, and while touring with the group in Berlin was commissioned to write the music for an operetta, Was Frauen Traumen.

In 1934, he appeared in Hollywood Rhythm, a short film purporting to show the songwriting team of Gordon and Harry Revel brainstorming the score for College Rhythm.

Harry Revel remained a British citizen; on two occasions, he and his brother Billy Harry Revel were found guilty of entering the United States with false passports, and were fined.

Harry Revel was nominated for an Academy Award in 1942 for "There's a Breeze on Lake Louise", from The Mayor of 44th Street, written with Mort Greene; and again for "Remember Me to Carolina", from Minstrel Man, written with Paul Francis Webster.

Harry Revel worked with arranger and conductor Les Baxter and theremin player Samuel Hoffman to create the 1947 album Music Out of the Moon, released by Capitol Records, and Perfume Set to Music on RCA Victor the following year.

Harry Revel has subsequently been seen as a pioneer of "space age pop".

Harry Revel set up his own publishing company, Realm Music Inc.

Harry Revel died from a cerebral hemorrhage in New York City in 1958, aged 52.

Harry Revel was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.