Roy Turk

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Roy Kenneth Turk (September 20, 1892 – November 30, 1934) was an American songwriter and lyricist, he frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert – their popular 1929 song "Mean to Me" has become a jazz standard. He worked with many other composers, including for film lyrics. Turk was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

Overview[]

Among his compositions (with music by Fred Ahlert unless otherwise noted):

• 1923 - "My Sweetie Went Away" (music by Lou Handman)
• 1927 - "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" (music by Lou Handman) popularized in 1960 by Elvis Presley
• 1928 - "I'll Get By (as Long as I Have You)"
• 1928 - "Mean to Me"
• 1931 - "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)"
• 1931 - "Walkin' My Baby Back Home"
• 1931 - "Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day)" for Bing Crosby
• 1932 - "Love, You Funny Thing!"

He also worked with composers such as Harry Akst, George W. Meyer, Charles Tobias, Arthur Johnston, Maceo Pinkard, and J. Russell Robinson.

References[]

• The ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Third edition, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, New York (1966)
• ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth edition, compiled for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, by Jaques Cattell Press, R.R. Bowker, New York (1980)
• The Complete Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz, 1900–1950, Three volumes, by Roger D. Kinkle, Arlington House Publishers, New Rochelle, New York (1974)
• Songwriters. A biographical dictionary with discographies, by Nigel Harrison, McFarland & Co., Jefferson, North Carolina (1998)
• Sweet and Lowdown. America's popular songwriters, by Warren Craig, Scarecrow Press, Metuchen, New Jersey (1978), Biographies appear in the 'After Tin Pan Alley' section, beginning on page 91
• American Popular Songs. From the Revolutionary War to the present, edited by David Ewen, Random House, New York (1966)

External links[]

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Roy Turk

• Biography of Roy Turk at the Songwriters Hall of Fame
• Roy Turk recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.

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