Henry, Sweet Henry.

I was listening to a CD of a musical today. It occurred to me that most people might not know the musical, nor recognize the name of its super talented composer and lyricist, which is a shame because he was a giant in the entertainment world. The musical was Carnival, the genius behind it Bob Merrill, who was born Henry Robert Merrill Levan in Atlantic City in 1921. And while Mr. Merrill wrote songs as light as "How Much is That Doggie in the Window", he also wrote outstanding musicals including the already mentioned Carnival, New Girl in Town, Take Me Along and Henry, Sweet Henry as well as the lyrics to such famous songs as "People" (m. Jule Styne). I was also surprised to learn that he wrote several songs for Jerry Herman's Hello Dolly, including my favorite "Elegance". Sadly Bob Merrill died on February 17, 1998, and, considering his many successes,  it's unfortunate that his name isn't as renowned as many other Broadway composers. Bob also had another talent that many composers sadly do not have: He could sing. Beautifully as it happens. And one of the most touching recordings I can think of is Bob Merrill singing his own song, "Love Makes the World Go 'Round."

Note: I found it oddly difficult to find a photo of Bob Merrill. This is the best I could come up with, and it's surprisingly somber for a musician that gave us so many, many joyous songs.