George M. Cohan

American entertainer, singer, actor, dancer, songwriter, playwright, and theatrical producer. Born: July 3, 1878, Providence, Rhode Island. Died: November 5, 1942, New York City, New York. He wrote hundreds of songs, and also created many stage musicals beginning with "Little Johnny Jones" in 1904, considered one of the first American musicals. He appeared in more than 30 of the musicals himself. He is regarded as the father of American musical comedy and was one of the early members of the ASCAP. He charted forty times as a songwriter (all in the top 10) in the U.S. between 1900 and 1923, including thirteen #1 songs. Fifteen of his hits and six of his #1 songs came from the voice of Billy Murray. Cohan charted again in 2002 in the U.K. with "Over There", the song's seventh time on the charts (including four #1s)--this time by The Babe Team. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.