Ralph Blane (July 26, 1914 – November 13, 1995) was an American composer, lyricist, and performer.
Born Ralph Uriah Hunsecker in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Blane was the son of grocery store owners. He attended Tulsa Central High School. He began his career as a radio singer for NBC in the 1930s before turning to Broadway, where he was featured in New Faces of 1936, Hooray for What!, and Louisiana Purchase. He contributed the lyrics and music to Bes...
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Ralph Blane (July 26, 1914 – November 13, 1995) was an American composer, lyricist, and performer.
Born Ralph Uriah Hunsecker in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Blane was the son of grocery store owners. He attended Tulsa Central High School. He began his career as a radio singer for NBC in the 1930s before turning to Broadway, where he was featured in New Faces of 1936, Hooray for What!, and Louisiana Purchase. He contributed the lyrics and music to Best Foot Forward (1941) and Three Wishes for Jamie (1952).
With partner Hugh Martin, Blane penned many American standards for the stage and MGM musicals. The team's best-known songs include "The Boy (Girl) Next Door", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "The Trolley Song," all written for the 1944 film musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Although, during a December 21, 2006 NPR interview with Hugh Martin, he said Blane encouraged him to write 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', but did not have anything more to do with writing it....
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