Biography
Benee Russell
American songwriter, composer, and playwright (born August 10, 1902 in New York, NY - died June 29, 1961 in New York, NY).
Russell grew up in Rochester, NY. He started working in newspapers in Rochester, then made his way to New York City in 1919. Interviewing performers led to develop an interest in theater and songwriting. He worked under contract for several New York music publishers. From 1929, he also wrote music for Hollywood films. In 1946, he published the comedy, "By Appointment Only."
Russell's songs include: "You Didn't Want Me When You Had Me (So Why Do You Want Me Now?)" (1919), "Wait Till You're Blue" (1923), "You Didn't Care When You Broke My Heart" (1923), "Katinka" (1925), "She Said And I Said" (1926), "Turkish Towel (1926), "Go Home and Tell Your Mother" (1927), "Lonesome in the Moonlight" (1928), "A Song Without a Name" (1930, awarded the $5,000 Steinway Prize and a trip to Europe), "Love Is Like That" (1931), "Bubbling Over With Love" (1931), "Did My Heart Beat, Did I Fall in Love" (1933), "Don't Never Do-o-o That, You Nasty Man" (`1934), "Coronation Waltz" (1937), "Nearest Thing to Heaven" (1948, with Al Jolson), "The Ten Commandments" (1946), "To My Church," and the "Anthem of the United Nations."
Russell grew up in Rochester, NY. He started working in newspapers in Rochester, then made his way to New York City in 1919. Interviewing performers led to develop an interest in theater and songwriting. He worked under contract for several New York music publishers. From 1929, he also wrote music for Hollywood films. In 1946, he published the comedy, "By Appointment Only."
Russell's songs include: "You Didn't Want Me When You Had Me (So Why Do You Want Me Now?)" (1919), "Wait Till You're Blue" (1923), "You Didn't Care When You Broke My Heart" (1923), "Katinka" (1925), "She Said And I Said" (1926), "Turkish Towel (1926), "Go Home and Tell Your Mother" (1927), "Lonesome in the Moonlight" (1928), "A Song Without a Name" (1930, awarded the $5,000 Steinway Prize and a trip to Europe), "Love Is Like That" (1931), "Bubbling Over With Love" (1931), "Did My Heart Beat, Did I Fall in Love" (1933), "Don't Never Do-o-o That, You Nasty Man" (`1934), "Coronation Waltz" (1937), "Nearest Thing to Heaven" (1948, with Al Jolson), "The Ten Commandments" (1946), "To My Church," and the "Anthem of the United Nations."