Henry Sullivan (composer)

Henry Anthony Sullivan (1895–1975) was a composer, songwriter, and pianist.[1]

Early life

He attended the Worcester Academy and Dartmouth College.[2]

Career

In 1929, he wrote his first complete show, Almanac,[2] which was produced by John Murray Anderson as Murray Anderson's Almanac on Broadway in 1929. Some of the comedy sketches were written by Noël Coward.[3] From the show, I May Be Wrong (but I Think You're Wonderful) was composed, with Sullivan writing the music and Harry Ruskin writing the lyrics.[2][4][5] The song would go on to become a popular song with multiple cover versions.[6]

With Anderson's 1931 production of Bow Bells, Sullivan wrote the music for "Mona Lisa" (not to be confused with the 1949 song Mona Lisa recorded by Nat King Cole and others), and other songs in the show.[7] Sullivan would later write the music for the Broadway show Thumbs Up! (1934), with Anderson staging the show as well writing some of the lyrics.[8] Together, they would write five songs for the film The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), along with other copyrighted songs as well.[9]

Broadway shows

Title Opening Role
John Murray Anderson's Almanac 1953 additional music and lyrics[10]
Thumbs Up! 1934 music[11]
Keep Moving 1934 music for "A Page from Jonathan Swift" and "Comnand to Love"[12]
Murray Anderson's Almanac 1929 music[13]

Source:[14]

Discography

Song and Authorship[9][15] Year
"Picnic in the Park" from the film The Greatest Show on Earth

words: John Murray Anderson, music: Henry Sullivan

 1951
"You Can't Say Goodbye to Hawaii" from the film The Greatest Show on Earth

words: John Murray Anderson, music: Henry Sullivan

 1951
"Sing a Happy Song" from the film The Greatest Show on Earth

words: John Murray Anderson, music: Henry Sullivan

 1952
"Popcorn and Lemonade" from the film The Greatest Show on Earth

words: John Murray Anderson, music: Henry Sullivan

 1952
"If Every Month Were June"

words: John Murray Anderson, music: Henry Sullivan

 1953
"Hudson River"

words: Henry Myers, music: Henry Sullivan

 1955
"I May Be Wrong (but I Think You're Wonderful)"

words: Harry Ruskin, music: Henry Sullivan, arranged for dance orchestra

 1959

References

  1. ↑ "Artist: Henry Sullivan | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Williamson, Chet (January 26, 2013). "Worcester Songwriters of the Great American Songbook : "I May Be Wrong," But I Think You're Wonderful"". Worcester Songwriters of the Great American Songbook. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Murray Anderson's Almanac (Playbill)".
  4. ↑ LESLIE HUTCHINSON; Harry Ruskin; Henry Sullivan, I May Be Wrong (But I Think You're Wonderful), Internet Archive, Parlophone, retrieved March 5, 2024
  5. ↑ Sullivan, Henry (January 1, 1929). "I May Be Wrong". Sheet Music Collection.
  6. ↑ "I May Be Wrong (but I Think You're Wonderful)". archive.org. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Mona Lisa : from John Murray Anderson's musical production "Bow bells" / words by Desmond Carter ; music by Henry Sullivan. | Sullivan, Henry, b. 1893. | The Morgan Library & Museum". www.themorgan.org. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Thumbs Up!". Internet Broadway Database.
  9. 1 2 "Headings Results". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  10. ↑ "John Murray Anderson's Almanac – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Thumbs Up! – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Keep Moving – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Murray Anderson's Almanac – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Henry Sullivan (writer)".
  15. ↑ "Music - Henry Sullivan". catalog.afi.com. AFI|Catalog. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
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