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{{short description|American songwriter}}

{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}
[[Image:Sad Song in De Air.jpg|frame]]
[[Image:Sad Song in De Air.jpg|frame]]

'''Jacques Leon Wolfe''' (April 29, 1896 – June 22, 1973) was a Romanian-born American songwriter.
'''Jacques Leon Wolfe''' (April 29, 1896 – June 22, 1973) was a Romanian-born American songwriter.


Wolfe was born in [[Botoşani]], [[Romania]]. His family emigrated to New York when he was a very young child. He displayed musical talent as a youngster and, at 16, he entered the Institute of Musical Art, now known as Juilliard School. During World War I, he was stationed at Governor’s Island, where he played clarinet in a military band. Transferred south, Wolfe made his first direct contact with African-American music. He was fascinated with the genre and did extensive research on the history of black folk songs and spirituals. He became inspired to write his own music based on the style. His spirituals and “work songs” became very popular in sheet music form in the early 1930s. In 1934 Wolfe collaborated with poet [[Langston Hughes]] to write “Sad Song in de Air, published by Robbins Music Corp.
Wolfe was born into a Jewish family<ref>H. F. Woods, Geoffrey T. Hellman, Harold Ross, and Clifford Orr, “Another Composer”, September 9, 1933, ''The New Yorker''</ref> in [[Botoşani]], [[Romania]]. His family emigrated to New York when he was a very young child. He displayed musical talent as a youngster and, at 16, he entered the Institute of Musical Art, now known as [[Juilliard School]]. During World War I, he was stationed at Governor’s Island, where he played clarinet in a military band. Transferred south, Wolfe made his first direct contact with African-American music. He was fascinated with the genre and did extensive research on the history of black folk songs and spirituals. He became inspired to write his own music based on the style. His spirituals and “work songs” became very popular in sheet music form in the early 1930s. In 1934 Wolfe collaborated with poet [[Langston Hughes]] to write "Sad Song in de Air," published by Robbins Music Corp.


Jacques Wolfe is credited with writing "[[Short'nin' Bread]]" in 1928. The song is a vaudeville "[[blackface]]" song written for stage during blackface shows. The music was published by Harold Flammer and distributed by G. Schirmer in [[New York]].
Jacques Wolfe is credited with writing "[[Short'nin' Bread]]" in 1928. The song is a vaudeville "[[blackface]]" song written for stage during blackface shows. The music was published by Harold Flammer and distributed by G. Schirmer in [[New York City]].


Also set "Three Negro Poems" by Clement Wood to music for "medium or low voice and piano". Published in 1928 by G. Schirmer, the three songs are entitled: Debil-Foot, De Glory Road and Gwine to Hebb'n. De Glory Road appears dedicated to [[Paul Robeson]].
Also set "Three Negro Poems" by Clement Wood to music for "medium or low voice and piano". Published in 1928 by G. Schirmer, the three songs are entitled: "Debil-Foot", "De Glory Road" and "Gwine to Hebb'n". "De Glory Road" appears dedicated to [[Paul Robeson]].


Wolfe wrote the music for the 1931 film “The Prodigal” and in 1938, composed the music for a Broadway musical based on Roark Bradford’s [[John Henry (musical) |John Henry]], starring Paul Robeson in the title role. The musical opened in January 1940 and, some reviewers thought because of a weak script, closed five days later.
Wolfe wrote the music for the 1931 film ''The Prodigal'' and in 1938, composed the music for a Broadway musical based on Roark Bradford’s ''[[John Henry (musical)|John Henry]]'', starring Paul Robeson in the title role. The musical opened in January 1940 and, some reviewers thought because of a weak script, closed five days later.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}


==Notes==
In later life, Wolfe lived in Miami and took up photography.
{{reflist}}

Jacque Wolfe died in [[Bradenton, Florida]], on June 22, 1973.


==External links==
==External links==
*{{ibdb name|id=88925|name=Jacques Wolfe}}
*{{IBDB name}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolfe, Jacques}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolfe, Jacques}}
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1973 deaths]]
[[Category:1973 deaths]]
[[Category:American songwriters]]
[[Category:People from Botoșani]]
[[Category:American male songwriters]]

[[Category:American people of Romanian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Moldavian Jews]]
[[Category:Romanian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century American musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
{{songwriter-stub}}
{{songwriter-stub}}

Revision as of 00:37, 7 November 2024

Jacques Leon Wolfe (April 29, 1896 – June 22, 1973) was a Romanian-born American songwriter.

Wolfe was born into a Jewish family[1] in Botoşani, Romania. His family emigrated to New York when he was a very young child. He displayed musical talent as a youngster and, at 16, he entered the Institute of Musical Art, now known as Juilliard School. During World War I, he was stationed at Governor’s Island, where he played clarinet in a military band. Transferred south, Wolfe made his first direct contact with African-American music. He was fascinated with the genre and did extensive research on the history of black folk songs and spirituals. He became inspired to write his own music based on the style. His spirituals and “work songs” became very popular in sheet music form in the early 1930s. In 1934 Wolfe collaborated with poet Langston Hughes to write "Sad Song in de Air," published by Robbins Music Corp.

Jacques Wolfe is credited with writing "Short'nin' Bread" in 1928. The song is a vaudeville "blackface" song written for stage during blackface shows. The music was published by Harold Flammer and distributed by G. Schirmer in New York City.

Also set "Three Negro Poems" by Clement Wood to music for "medium or low voice and piano". Published in 1928 by G. Schirmer, the three songs are entitled: "Debil-Foot", "De Glory Road" and "Gwine to Hebb'n". "De Glory Road" appears dedicated to Paul Robeson.

Wolfe wrote the music for the 1931 film The Prodigal and in 1938, composed the music for a Broadway musical based on Roark Bradford’s John Henry, starring Paul Robeson in the title role. The musical opened in January 1940 and, some reviewers thought because of a weak script, closed five days later.[citation needed]

Notes

  1. ^ H. F. Woods, Geoffrey T. Hellman, Harold Ross, and Clifford Orr, “Another Composer”, September 9, 1933, The New Yorker