11 Facts About Yip Harburg

Yip Harburg was known for the social commentary of his lyrics, as well as his leftist leanings.

Yip Harburg championed racial and gender equality and union politics.

Yip Harburg later adopted the name Edgar Harburg, and came to be best known as Edgar "Yip" Harburg.

Yip Harburg attended Townsend Harris High School, where he and Ira Gershwin, who bonded over a shared fondness for Gilbert and Sullivan, worked on the school paper and became lifelong friends.

Yip Harburg wrote a poem entitled "Atheist" that summarized his views on God.

Yip Harburg was named in a pamphlet Red Channels: The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television; his involvement with the Hollywood Democratic Committee, and his refusal to identify reputed communists, led to him being blocked from working in Hollywood films, television, and radio for twelve full years, from 1950 to 1962.

Yip Harburg was unable to travel abroad during this period, as his passport had been revoked.

In 1966, songwriter Earl Robinson sought Yip Harburg's help for the song "Hurry Sundown"; the two collaborated on the song and are credited as co-writers.

Yip Harburg died while driving on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles on March 5,1981, at the age of 84.

In 1940 Yip Harburg won an Oscar, shared with Harold Arlen, for Best Music, Original Song for The Wizard of Oz.

Yip Harburg was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.