David Heneker
David William Heneker (born March 31, 1906 in Southsea, Hampshire , England , † January 30, 2001 in Bridell, Ceredigion , Wales ) was a British composer and lyricist of pop music and musicals . His best known work is the musical Half a Sixpence .
life and career
David Heneker was born on March 31, 1906 in Southsea, England, the eldest son of Lieutenant Colonel William Heneker of Canadian descent . He followed his father and also began his career in the British Army, where he served in the War Office from 1925 to 1937 and then again from 1939 to 1948 .
During this time he began a second career as a composer and lyricist. Its first published track was sung by Merle Oberon in the movie The Broken Melody . His hit The Thing-Ummy Bob , sung by Gracie Fields , also dates from this time .
After the end of his military career in 1948 he worked as a singer in the Embassy Club, but continued to write music. In 1958 the writer Wolf Mankowitz asked him to work with him and with Monty Norman on the musical "Expresso Bongo". From that moment on, David Heneker concentrated entirely on music theater. In the same year he wrote the lyrics for the French musical Irma la Douce by Marguerite Monnot from 1956 and in 1959 he worked again with Monty Norman on "Make Me An Offer".
His greatest success came in 1963 when he wrote music and lyrics for the musical Half a Sixpence . This play was also a hit on New York's Broadway , earning it two Tony Award nominations ( Best Musical and Best Original Score ). He achieved another success in 1965 with the musical "Charlie Girl", which ran for five years in London's West End .
Heneker was married twice, first to Ellen Hope and then to Gwenol Satow. He died on January 30, 2001 at the age of 94 in Bridell, Welsh.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ David Heneker , Obituary, The Telegraph, Jan. 31, 2001.
- ↑ Eric Shorter: Obituary: David Heneker , Obituary, The Guardian, Feb. 1, 2001.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Heneker, David |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Heneker, David William (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British composer and lyricist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 31, 1906 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Southsea, Hampshire , England |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 30, 2001 |
| Place of death | Bridell, Ceredigion , Wales |