[Kathy in Alaska]

Bob oh boy...you vets are fast!! Congratulations!!

[Publius]

THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

JEROME KERN

”THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS”

Jerome settled permanently in Los Angeles in 1937 but shuttled to New York by train for work on the occasional Broadway musical. After a heart attack in 1939 his doctors told him to concentrate on film scores, a less stressful task, as Hollywood songwriters were not as deeply involved with the production of their works as Broadway songwriters.

Tonight is dedicated to one of Jerome’s best known songs, recorded by practically everybody.

In 1940 Oscar Hammerstein wrote the lyrics for “The Last Time I Saw Paris” in homage to the French capital, recently occupied by the Germans. Jerome set it to music, the only time he set a pre-written lyric, and his only hit song not written as part of a musical. It was used in the film “Lady Be Good” in 1941 and won Jerome another Oscar for Best Song. This was the American hit version from 1940.

Tony Martin: “The Last Time I Saw Paris”