Victor Schertzinger

A violin prodigy, an early film scorer, and the composer of standards including "I Don't Want to Cry Any More," "I Remember You," and "Tangerine," Victor Schertzinger was born in Mahanoy City, PA, in 1890. Classically trained from early childhood, Schertzinger began appearing with orchestras (led by Victor Herbert and John Philip Sousa) from the age of eight. He toured America and Europe as a teenager and after moving to Los Angeles, he worked as a conductor for theater orchestras, often composing his own music to use as backing for silent movies. At the age of 23, he composed "My Wonderful Dream Girl," his first successful song. After the silent era came to a close, Schertzinger began composing music to be used in early talkies. One of his first, 1929's The Love Parade (starring Maurice Chevalier), introduced "Dream Lover" and "Paris, Stay the Same," both with lyrics by Clifford Grey. He composed many more songs during the 1930s, including titles for One Night of Love (the title song), Rhythm on the River with Bing Crosby ("I Don't Cry Any More"), Road to Singapore ("Willow Tree"), and The Fleet's In ("I Remember You"). He died in 1941. ~ John Bush, Rovi