Ruth Poll (born Ruth M. Heiman,[1] June 10, 1899– March 14, 1955)[2] was an American lyricist, music publishing executive, dramatist and author, best known for songs recorded by Nat King Cole,[3] Tony Bennett[4] Ella Fitzgerald,[5] Billy Eckstine,[6] and Eddie Fisher,[2] such as "Those Things Money Can't Buy",[7] "I'd Love to Make Love to You",[8] "(I Need) A New Shade of Blues",[9] "Because of Rain" and "Bring Back the Thrill".[10][11][2]

Early life and career

A lifelong Manhattanite (and 1st-generation German-American),[12] Poll was the first of two children born to Dr. Henry Heiman and Bertha Tannenbaum.[1][13][14][15]

In 1939, Poll and artist Gar Gilbert collaborated on a children's book, The American Holiday Parade, published by New York's Elektra Press, providing a series of brief, brightly illustrated verses on every nationally observed holiday of note.[16][17]

Poll's first publicized foray into songwriting was her 1941 collaboration with composer Henry Sylvern, "I'm a Military Man Now," which was unveiled, at Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau's request, on the premiere broadcast of a revamped version of the U.S. Treasury's wartime radio series, The Treasury Hour—Millions for Defense.[18][19][20]

In September 1942, an Americanized version of Ivor Novello's play, On the House, was presented in Scarsdale, New York, with the adaptation credited to Ruth Poll.[21] The following June, the New York Daily News reported that Poll and composer Bob Emmerich were providing "extra songs" for an upcoming musical revue entitled Bright Lights, to be produced by Alexander H. Cohen.[22] In the end, however, Cohen passed on their contribution, hiring the team of Jerry Livingston and Mack David instead.[23]

Aside from Emmerich, it appears that Poll's most frequent collaborators were Claude Demetrius and Al Goodhart.[24] Others include Mercer Ellington, Alec Wilder,[25] Charles Brown,[26] Pete Rugolo and Larry Stock.[27]

In February 1949, Billboard reported that Poll had formed Maypole Music.[28] By October, due in large part to the great success of her song "(I Need) A New Shade of Blues" (recorded that year by Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Ray Anthony and Mindy Carson), Poll had been admitted to ASCAP.[29][9][6]

Personal life and death

Ruth Poll was married to Dr. Daniel Poll from September 8, 1920, until his death on December 24, 1952.[30][31] They had two daughters, both of whom predeceased their parents.[32][31]

In her 1972 book, Nat King Cole, an Intimate Biography, Cole's widow Maria Cole recalls the wedding gift received from Poll on Easter Sunday, March 1948:

Ruth Poll, a very good friend of ours, gave me an exquisitely beautiful handkerchief that had been part of her daughter's trousseau at her own wedding, with all of the bridesmaids' names on it. I've kept it to give to my daughters.[33]

Moreover, Poll herself, during roughly that same period (i.e. 1947 through 1949), hosted at least three interracial parties honoring African-American recording artists, two of them dedicated to singer Billy Eckstine. The latter of those two, held in May 1949, numbered among its musical "Who's Who" of guests Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, and disc jockey Fred Robbins,[34][35] while the former reportedly featured Cole playing piano behind both Eckstine and Mel Torme.[36] By contrast, an earlier such Poll-sponsored event, honoring singer Nellie Lutcher in November 1947, appears to have been considerably less successful, receiving a scant one sentence of press coverage, informing readers that the putative guest of honor had failed to attend.[37]

She and her husband had had two daughters.[2] On Monday afternoon, March 14, 1955, Poll, at age 55 died following a heart attack.

Songs

1941:

  • "Weary Little Fellow" (written with Henry Sylvern)
  • "I'm a Military Man Now" (written with Henry Sylvern)

1947:

  • "I Owe This Dream to You" (Mercer Ellington)
  • "Ain't Nobody's Business What I Do" (written with Claude Demetrius)
  • "Two Poor Fools" (with Claude Demetrius)
  • "I Don't Wanna Love You" (written with Demetrius and Johnny Farrow)
  • "Those Things Money Can't Buy" (written with Al Goodhart)
  • "I'd Love to Make Love to You" (written with Bob Emmerich)

1948:

  • "If and When" (written with Bob Emmerich)
  • "I Found a New Love Song" (written with Bob Emmerich)
  • "Another November" (written with Johnny Farrow)
  • "I Dreamed This Waltz" (written with Enzo Vollero)
  • "If I Could Do What I'd Like to Do" (written with Claude Demetrius)
  • "Let's Pretend" (written with Claude Demetrius)
  • "I'm Looking for a Bluebird" (written with Bob Emmerich)
  • "If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow" (written with Bob Emmerich)
  • "The Look In Your Eyes" (written with Bob Emmerich)
  • "There's a Little White Gate" (written with Bob Emmerich)
  • "Twenty-Four Hours a Day" (written with Bob Emmerich)
  • "Someone Stole My Heart Away" (written with Carroll W. Lucas)
  • "I'm Lookin' for Love" (written with Charles Brown)

1949:

  • "I Love You, I Told You So" (written with Doris B. Halpern)
  • "I'm Just Thinking Out Loud" (written with Bob Emmerich)
  • "What Have You Got If You Haven't Got Love" (written with Alvin S. Kaufman and Bob Emmerich)[38]

1950:

  • "Bring Back the Thrill" (written with Pete Rugolo)
  • "What Have You Got If You Haven't Got Love" (written with David Saxon)[39]
  • "The World Belongs to Me" (written with David Saxon)

1951:

  • "Ain't Had No Lovin'" (written with Robert Marcus)
  • "Hi-Ho for Holiday Land" (written with Bob Emmerich)
  • "How Could You Be So Dumb, My Little Darlin'" (with Larry Stock)
  • "What Have You Got If You Haven't Got Love" (written with Russ Black)[39]
  • "You Learned a Lot About Love" (written with Robert Marcus)
  • "You Weren't There" (written with Alec Wilder)

1954:

  • "Love, Tears and Kisses" (written with Al Goodhart and Alex Alstone)
  • "Slow Down, Baby, Slow Down" (written with Sylvia Davis and Al Goodhart)

Notable performers of her songs

Except where otherwise indicated, credits derived from Discogs.[40]

References

  1. 1 2 "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WWZ-3SK : 11 February 2018), Ruth Heiman, 10 Jun 1899; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 22032 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,953,534.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ruth Poll Dies". The Cash Box. March 26, 1955. p. 17.
  3. ↑ Friedwald, Will (2020). Straighten Up and Fly Right : The Life and Music of Nat King Cole. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 136. ISBN 9780190882044.
  4. 1 2 Matwychuk, Paul (July 4–July 10, 2002). "New Sounds". Vue Weekly. p. 33.
  5. ↑ Rowe, Billy (June 9, 1951). "Billy Rowe's Notebook". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 17.
  6. 1 2 3 International News Service (October 11, 1949). "Took a Chance, Made Good as Song Publisher". The Journal News. p. 8.
  7. ↑ "'Round the Wax Circle". The Cash Box. July 30, 1949. p. 11.
  8. ↑ DuBoff, Rob (1997). 200 of the Best Songs from Jazz of the '50s. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 90. ISBN 0793558085.
  9. 1 2 "'Round the Wax Circle". The Cash Box. October 15, 1949. p. 9.
  10. ↑ Lax, Roger; Smith, Frederick (1989). The Great Song Thesaurus. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 195. ISBN 0-19-505408-3.
  11. ↑ Lonergan, David F. (2005). Hit Records, 1950–1975. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. pp. 16, 25. ISBN 0-8108-5129-6.
  12. ↑ Moore, John Frederick (November 18, 1947). "Dr. Henry Heiman, 82, at Mt. Sinai 58 Years". The New York Times. p. 29. ProQuest 108049152. Born in Germany, Dr. Heiman came to this country at the age of 14. He received a B.A. degree from the University of Arkansas and was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons here in 1890. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Daniel Poll; a son, Arthur S. Heiman, and two grandchildren.
  13. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M53V-Q4B : accessed 24 February 2023), Ruth Heiman in household of Henry Heiman, Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 493, sheet 7B, family 124, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1020; FHL microfilm 1,375,033.
  14. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:MJY1-7Q3 : Tue Feb 07 22:06:22 UTC 2023), Entry for Henry Heiman and Ruth Heiman, 1920.
  15. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQTN-MYB : 28 July 2019), Ruth Poll in household of Daniel Poll, Assembly District 15, Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31-1341, sheet 15B, line 60, family 11, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2655.
  16. ↑ "Lates Books Received: Juvenile". The New York Times. December 24, 1939. p. 63. ProQuest 102893220. THE AMERICAN HOLIDAY PARADE. By Ruth Poll. 8vo. New York: Elektra Press, 20 East Fifty-seventh Street. $1. Verses about American holidays. Illustrated by Gar Gilbert.
  17. ↑ "New Book Shelf (Greenwood City and County Public Library): Children's Books". The Greenwood Index-Journal. April 30, 1941. p. 2.
  18. ↑ "News and Views of Radio: New Program". The Sacramento Bee. September 30, 1941. p. 18.
  19. ↑ "From the Production Centres: New York". Variety. October 1, 1941. p. 47.
  20. ↑ Associated Press (June 26, 1941). "Talent Lined Up for Stamp, Bond Program". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 18.
  21. ↑ Odec. (September 23, 1942). "Legitimate: Strawhat Reviews". Variety. p. 50.
  22. ↑ "Aug. Review to Combine Old and New". New York Daily News. June 22, 1943. p. 35.
  23. ↑ "Court To Decide Whether Cohen Arbitrates or Not". The Billboard. September 4, 1943. p. 24.
  24. ↑ Library of Congress "Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series". U.S. Copyright Office. p. 50.
  25. ↑ "'Round the Wax Circle: New York".The Cash Box. December 15, 1951. p. 7.
  26. ↑ "1946-1954 Copyright Registration Cards (A-N)". U.S. Copyright Office.
  27. ↑ "Search results for 'Poll, Ruth'". U.S. Copyright Office.
  28. ↑ "Music as Written: New York". The Billboard. February 5, 1949.
  29. ↑ "'Round the Wax Circle". The Billboard. October 8, 1949. p. 45.
  30. ↑ "New York Happenings". The American Israelite. September 16, 1920. p. P2.
  31. 1 2 "Obituary: Dr. Daniel Poll". New York Daily News. December 25, 1952. p. 31.
  32. ↑ "Deaths". The New York Times. March 16, 1955. p. 33. ProQuest 963027145. POLL–Ruth, on Monday, March 14, 1955: widow of Dr. Daniel Poll, mother of the late Jane Ray and Mary Anne [...] POLL–Ruth. We announce with profound sorrow the death of our beloved member and colleague, Ruth Poll, in New York City, on March 14, 1955.
  33. ↑ Hawkins, Maria; Robinson, Louie (1972). Nat King Cole : An Intimate Biography. New York: W.H. Allen. pp. 22, 24. ISBN 0491007825.
  34. ↑ "In the Spotlight". The Pittsburgh Courier. May 21, 1949. p. 18.
  35. ↑ "'Round the Wax Circle". The Cash Box. May 21, 1949. p. 9.
  36. ↑ Burley, Dan (December 27, 1947). "Back Door Stuff: Jojo on High Cost of Living". New York Amsterdam News. p. 17. ProQuest 226023061. Nat King Cole, who expects to be free to marry Marie Ellington very soon, was a featured guest at Ruth Poll's party for Billy Eckstine Saturday night following his Fred Robbins-sponsored Town Hall concert. Nat played piano for Eckstine and Mel Torme.
  37. ↑ Rowe, Billy (November 22, 1947). "Note Book". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 16.
  38. ↑ "1946-1954 Copyright Registration Cards (A-N)". United States Copyright Office.
  39. 1 2 "1946-1954 Copyright Registration Cards (O-Z)". United States Copyright Office.
  40. ↑ "Ruth Poll". Discogs.
  41. ↑ "Because of Rain ('Por Causa de la Lluvia')". Internet Archive.
  42. ↑ "Disk of the Week: Because of Rain / Song of Delilah - Nat King Cole". The Cash Box. May 5, 1951. p. 6.
  43. ↑ "'Bring Back the Thrill' by Don Cherry; Pete Rugolo; Ruth Poll; Dave Terry". Internet Archive.
  44. ↑ "'Bring Back the Thrill' Due for Big Push". The Cash Box. December 30, 1950. p. 33.
  45. ↑ "Taylor Joins Maypole". The Cash Box. December 16, 1950. p. 19.
  46. ↑ "'Round the Wax Circle". The Cash Box. March 29, 1952. p. 7.
  47. ↑ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts; Advance Record Releases: Hot Jazz". The Billboard. September 20, 1947. p. 141.
  48. ↑ "I LOVE TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU". Internet Archive.
  49. ↑ "'I'd Love to Make Love to You' by Erskine Hawkins His Orchestra". Internet Archive.
  50. ↑ Moore, John Frederick (May 2012). "Secret Canon Vol. 1". Jazziz. p. 51. ProQuest 1372105996. Still, she's gentle enough to bring a sense of after-midnight heartache to material like 'If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow' and 'I'll Close My Eyes.'
  51. ↑ "Record Album: Freddy Martin Orchestra Does Fine Job". Independent Press Telegram. p. 6.
  52. ↑ "Love, Tears and Kisses". Internet Archive.
  53. ↑ "Love, Tears And Kisses - David Whitfield & Annunzio Mantovani And His Orchestra". Internet Archive.
  54. ↑ "Maypole Music Extend Thanks to the Disc Jockies, Juke Box Operators, Distributors and Trade Press for their cooperation and support of our No. One Song: 'A New Shade of Blues'". The Cash Box. June 4, 1949. p. 10.
  55. ↑ "Search results for 'New Shade of Blues A'". ASCAP Repertory Search.
  56. ↑ Lissauer, Robert (1991). Lissauer's Encyclopedia of Popular Music in America : 1888 to the Present. New York: Paragon House. p. 852. ISBN 1-55778-015-3.
  57. ↑ Billboard Music Popularity Charts, Part VII; Record Reviews. The Billboard. November 15, 1947. p. 30.
  58. ↑ "Jerry Ritter's Record Review of the Week". The Times Herald. January 22, 1948. p. 2.
  59. ↑ "Record Reviews: Sleeper of the Week". The Cash Box. November 22, 1947. p. 16. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  60. ↑ Bob. (April 21, 1954). "El Rancho, Las Vegas". Variety. p. 62. Retrieved March 20, 2023.

Further reading

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