B.G. DeSylva

B.G. DeSylva (1895-1950) was a composer, author and publisher, born in New York, NY, January 27, 1895, and died in Los Angeles, CA, July 11, 1950. Education: University of Southern California. DeSylva wrote songs for several Broadway musicals, including Ziegfeld Follies (1918, 1921), Sinbad, Sally, The Perfect Fool and The French Doll. Director ASCAP 1922 - 1930. Joined Lew Brown and Ray Henderson as songwriting team and music publisher, 1925. Sold publishing firm 1929; went to Hollywood under contract to Fox. Produced films including The Little Colonel, The Littlest Rebel, Captain January, Poor Little Rich Girl and Stowaway. He was producer and co-librettist for Broadway musicals DuBarry Was A Lady and Panama Hattie, and produced Louisiana Purchase. He was executive producer at Paramount from 1941-1944. Film biography: The Best Things in Life Are Free. Chief collaborators: Gus Kahn, Al Jolson, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Vincent Rose, Louise Silvers, Joseph Meyer, Victor Herbert, Emmerich Kalman, Ira Gershwin, Ballard Macdonald, Lewis Gensler, James Hanley, Nacio Herb Brown, Richard Whiting, Vincent Youmans.