Morton Downey(1901-1985)

Pianist, songwriter ("Wabash Moon"), composer, singer and businessman, educated in public schools and at Lyman Hall. He began his singing career in a Greenwich Village movie theatre, and was later a vocalist for the Paul Whiteman orchestra aboard the SS Leviathan. In 1927, he toured Europe and then opened his own night club, the Delmonico in New York, in 1930, which offered the chance to sing over radio. He was also a member of the board of directors of Coca-Cola and other corporations. Joining ASCAP in 1949, his chief musical collaborators included Dave Dreyer, Paul Cunningham, James Rule, and Dick Sanford. His other popular-song compositions include "California Skies", "All I Need is Someone Like You", "In the Valley of the Roses", "That's How I Spell Ireland", "Sweeten Up Your Smile", "There's Nothing New" and "Now You're in My Arms".