Youmans, Vincent, << YOO muhnz, VIHN sehnt >> (1898-1946), was a major American composer of musical comedies. Although few of Youmans’s shows were hits, he wrote many songs that have become standards in popular music. His best-known musical was No, No, Nanette. The musical gained widespread popularity in many American cities and in London before opening on Broadway in 1925.
Youmans was born in New York City. He served in the United States Navy during World War I (1914-1918) and entered the music business after the war. He wrote his first score for the musical Two Little Girls in Blue (1921). His next show was Wildflower (1923), which featured the song “Bambalina.” Then came No, No Nanette, with such hit songs as “Tea for Two” and “I Want to Be Happy.” Youmans’s only other successful musical was Hit the Deck! (1927). His score for that show included “Sometimes I’m Happy” and “Hallelujah.”
Youmans composed several musicals from 1928 to 1932, but none were commercial successes. They did produce a number of hit songs, such as “Without a Song,” “Great Day,” “More Than You Know,” “Time on My Hands,” and “Rise ‘n’ Shine.”
Youmans began writing for motion pictures in the early 1930’s. He contributed the score to the musical film Flying Down to Rio (1933), which introduced Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as a dance team. The score included the hits “Orchids in the Moonlight” and “The Carioca.” Youmans did little composing during the last decade of his life, partly due to poor health.
