Styne, Jule, << JOO lee >> (1905-1994), was an American songwriter who wrote hits for both the musical stage and motion pictures. He worked with some of the greatest lyricists in American popular music, including Sammy Cahn, E. Y. Harburg, Frank Loesser, Stephen Sondheim, and especially the team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Styne achieved his first success as a songwriter in Hollywood. He composed many hit songs for the movies, including “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You” from Sweater Girl (1942), “I’ll Walk Alone” from Follow the Boys (1944), “It’s Been a Long, Long Time” from I’ll Get By (1945), “I Fall in Love Too Easily” from Anchors Aweigh (1945), and the title song from Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), for which he shared an Academy Award with Sammy Cahn. Several of Styne’s songs were popularized by the American singer Frank Sinatra, a close friend of the composer’s. They included “Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night of the Week” (1944) and “Time After Time” (1947).
Styne’s Broadway career began with the musical Glad to See You (1944). His major shows, with their hit songs, included High Button Shoes (“Papa, Won’t You Dance with Me,” 1947), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (“Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” 1949), Bells Are Ringing (“Just in Time” and “The Party’s Over,” 1956), Gypsy (“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Small World,” 1959), Funny Girl (“People” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” 1964), and Hallelujah, Baby! (“Now’s the Time,” 1967).
Styne was born in London, England, on Dec. 31, 1905. His real name was Julius Kerwin Stein. He moved with his family to Chicago in 1912. During the 1920’s, Styne played piano and led dance bands in Chicago. He then worked as a vocal coach in New York City and in Hollywood. He broke into the movies as a composer in 1938. Styne died on Sept. 20, 1994.
