Andy Razaf

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Andy Razaf
North Hollywood, California
, U.S.
Occupation(s)Poet, composer, and lyricist

Andy Razaf (born Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo; December 16, 1895 – February 3, 1973)[1] was an American poet, composer, and lyricist of such well-known songs as "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose".

Biography

Razaf was born in Washington, D.C., United States.[1] His birth name was Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo. He was the son of Henri Razafinkarefo, nephew of Queen Ranavalona III of the Imerina kingdom in Madagascar, and Jennie Razafinkarefo (née Waller), the daughter of John L. Waller, the first African American consul to Imerina.[2] The French invasion of Madagascar (1894-95) left his father dead, and forced his pregnant 15-year-old mother to escape to the United States, where he was born in 1895.[3]

He was raised in

Gaiety Theatre office building, which was considered the black Tin Pan Alley.[4]

Some of Razaf's early poems were published in 1917–18 in the

(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue".[1] His music was played by other Tin Pan Alley musicians, as well as Benny Goodman, Eubie Blake, Cab Calloway and many others. He was a contributor and editor of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League's Negro World newspaper.[2]

He also wrote quite a number of raunchy 'character' blues-type songs for many of the female blues singers of the 1920s. He also made a number of records as vocalist (both as solo and as vocalist for jazz groups, including a handful by James P. Johnson and Fletcher Henderson).

He was married to Jean Blackwell Hutson from 1939 to 1947.[5]

In 1972, Razaf was recognized by his Tin Pan Alley peers when he was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[6]

Death

Razaf died in

renal failure, aged 77.[2]

Songs

The Songwriters Hall of Fame entry for Andy Razaf lists 215 compositions, giving co-writers and publishers.[6] He had many unpublished songs; Singer's biography lists more than 800, published and unpublished (but without giving lyrics). Some notable lyrics include:

Recordings

Although Razaf's songs are found on hundreds of recordings, there are only two albums devoted exclusively to his compositions:

  • Maxine Sullivan, A Tribute to Andy Razaf, 1956, produced by Leonard Feather,[8] re-issued in 2006 as My Memories of You with two additional non-Razaf tracks.
  • Bobby Short, Guess Who's in Town: Bobby Short Performs the Songs of Andy Razaf, 1987,[2][9] re-released in 2001 in tandem with Bobby Short Loves Cole Porter.

Poems

  • Wired, Hired, Fired, an expression of grief and sorrow that color bars one fitted to position (that is, one otherwise qualified for, or well suited to the job, is barred on the basis of race).
  • Jack Johnson, touching on defeat with honor.

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-85112-939-0
    .
  2. ^ a b c d Bourlin, Olga (November 29, 2015). "Andy Razaf (1895-1973)". Blackpast.org. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  3. ISBN 9781567923254
    . Retrieved October 6, 2021 – via Google Books.
  4. ISBN 0-415-93704-3
    .
  5. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Songwriters Hall of Fame website". Songwritershalloffame.org. Archived from the original on April 2, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  7. ^ "Maxine Sullivan : Mound Bayou". YouTube. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  8. ^ "A Tribute to Andy Razaf - Maxine Sullivan & Her All-Stars | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "Guess Who's in Town: Bobby Short Performs the Songs of Andy Razaf - Bobby Short | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 6, 2021.

Bibliography

External links
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