Sammy Cahn

Sammy Cahn (June 18, 1913 – January 15, 1993) was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to Tin Pan Alley and Broadway songs, as recorded by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day and many others. He played the piano and violin. He won the Academy Award four times for his songs, including the popular song "Three Coins in the Fountain". Cahn was born Samuel Cohen in the Lower East Side of New York City, the only ... more

Sammy Cahn (June 18, 1913 – January 15, 1993) was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to Tin Pan Alley and Broadway songs, as recorded by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day and many others. He played the piano and violin. He won the Academy Award four times for his songs, including the popular song "Three Coins in the Fountain". Cahn was born Samuel Cohen in the Lower East Side of New York City, the only son (he had four sisters) of Jewish immigrants from Poland. He was married twice: first to vocalist and former Goldwyn girl Gloria Delson in 1945, with whom he had two children, and later to Virginia (Tita) Basile in 1970. He changed his last name from Cohen to Kahn to avoid confusion with comic and MGM actor Sammy Cohen and again from Kahn to Cahn to avoid confusion with lyricist Gus Kahn. Much of Cahn's early work was written in partnership with Saul Chaplin. Billed simply as "Cahn and Chaplin" (in the manner of "Rodgers and Hart"), they... less