Biography
Academy Award-winning musician Mack Gordon was truly a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. He began his career performing as a boy soprano in minstrel shows. In 1940, he began a long collaboration with composer Harry Warren. He teamed with composer Harry Revel in the 1930s to write songs. In 1935, he wrote both the music and lyrics for the song "My Heart Is an Open Book." Gordon began his entertainment career with his music featured in films like the comedy "The Old-Fashioned Way" (1934) with W C Fields, "We're Not Dressing" (1934) with Bing Crosby and the Bing Crosby musical comedy "She Loves Me Not" (1934). His music also appeared in the dramedy "Now and Forever" (1934) with Gary Cooper and "College Rhythm" (1934). Though known first for his music, Gordon also acted in the musical comedy "Sitting Pretty" (1933) with Jack Oakie. Gordon won a Music (Song) Academy Award for "Hello, Frisco, Hello" in 1943. Gordon was nominated for a Music (Song) Academy Award for "Down Argentine Way" in 1940 as well as for a Music (Song) Academy Award for "Sun Valley Serenade" in 1941. Gordon was also credited in "A Nightmare on Elm Street, Part 2: Freddy's Revenge" (1985), "Brighton Beach Memoirs" with Blythe Danner (1986) and "Radio Days" (1987). He also was recognized in "The Puppetoon Movie" with Paul Frees (1987). Gordon was most recently credited in the action comedy "Pixels" (2015) with Adam Sandler. Gordon passed away in March 1959 at the age of 55.
