The author of the great American standard "I May Be Wrong, But I Think You're Wonderful, was born and raised in Worcester. Composer, pianist, and songwriter Henry Sullivan grew up on the west side of
He was later a student at
Although he wrote “I May Be Wrong,” and other
popular songs of the 1930s and ‘40s, Sullivan’s was largely focused on music
for the theater. A collection of newspaper clippings on file at Worcester Academy London
On May 15, 1939, under the heading of “Musical Son of WA,” an item ran in the Worcester Academy Bulletin stating: “Recent Dartmouth Alumni Magazine had a fine write-up on Henry A. Sullivan, W.A., ’17, which said in part: 'After advanced study in Vienna, following graduation from Dartmouth, Henry landed back in New York and did odd bits from many musical shows.'"
On May 15, 1939, under the heading of “Musical Son of WA,” an item ran in the Worcester Academy Bulletin stating: “Recent Dartmouth Alumni Magazine had a fine write-up on Henry A. Sullivan, W.A., ’17, which said in part: 'After advanced study in Vienna, following graduation from Dartmouth, Henry landed back in New York and did odd bits from many musical shows.'"
The Bulletin also pointed out that, the former U.S. Ambassador to
Sullivan wrote his first complete show, Almanac, in 1929. It was produced in New York
 |
| Coleman Hawkins |
Since the
1930s, “I May Be Wrong,” has been a favorite of jazz artists from Red Nichols
and his Five Pennies to Hoagy Charmichael and the Chicadees. And, with its cool, self-effacing, and smart turn-of-phrase lyrics it has also been a fave of singers
from Libby Holman and Judy Garland to Peggy Lee and Etta Jones. And, with its
hip harmonic changes, instrumentalists from Coleman Hawkins to Miles Davis have
also recorded the work.
 |
| John Murray Anderson at the keyboard, his best pal on the piano |
Sullivan was a frequent collaborator with John Murray Anderson, who was a major figure in the theater world from the 1920s until his death in 1954. Sullivan wrote songs and scored a series of shows with the impresario. In addition to Almanac, Sullivan contributed songs to
A 1939 edition of Worcester Academy Bulletin also reported that of Sullivan’s, “numerous recent successes, [we] might mention Home and Beauty, the Coronation Show of 1937. “A Nice Cup of Tea” from that show was pronounced biggest musical hit in England Paris London
In
February of 1948, a small piece on Sullivan appeared in the Feature Parade section of the Worcester Sunday Telegram. The
composer had recently returned to town and was visited by Telegram photographer Edward A.
Cournoyer and reporter Donald F. Williams, who wrote: “His score for
Auld Lang Syne, a stage biography of Robert Burns, is tabbed by the experts
as ‘sure hit material,’ although it isn’t scheduled for production until next
fall or winter. At the moment, Mr. Sullivan is writing music for the 1948
Ringling Brothers Circus.
"The
The Worcester Academy
 |
| Princess Rospigliosi |
Although none of his songs ever reached the popularity of “I May Be Wrong,” Sullivan was a prodigious composer who wrote music and songs for a playbill full of theater productions and films throughout his career. In addition to the aforementioned theater productions, Sullivan’s work graces the shows of The Third Little Show and Walk A Little Faster. His film credits include The Greatest Show on Earth, Perfect Understanding, Red Heads, The Return of Ruffles, Swingtime Johnny, Wildflower, You’re My Everything, and Young Man with a Horn.
Sullivan’s legacy is largely forgotten. Nonetheless, being the author of “I May Be Wrong, But I Think You’re Wonderful,” will always give him a rightful place in the cannon of great songwriters in the American Songbook. He spent his final days in
STANDARD
“I May Be
Wrong, but I Think You’re Wonderful” (1929)
Writers:
Harry Ruskin and Henry Sullivan
“I May Be
Wrong, But, I Think You’re Wonderful” was written on-demand for John
Anderson Murray. In his book, The Encyclopedia of Musical
Theater, Stanley Green reported that “because Anderson
 |
| Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis |
The
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) reports that
more than 50 artists have recorded the song over the years. A partial list
includes Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Lee Konitz, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Doris Day,
Perry Como, Count Basie and the Mills Brothers, Frank Rosolino, George Barnes,
Dave Brubeck, Helen Forrest, June Christy, Frankie Laine, the Four Freshmen,
Pee Wee Russell, Hoagy Charmichael, Tommy Dorsey, and John Kirby, among
others.
 |
| Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker Quartet w/Chico Hamilton and Carson Smith |
Instrumental version by Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker
Sung by
Doris Day
RECOMMENDED
“My
Temptation” – sung by Fred Astaire –http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=87957366&ac=now
Lilly Belle May June – Django Reinhardt -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVxzVpnyRUE
POPULAR
SONGS
“A Nice
Cup of Tea” – sung by Binnie Hale -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE5IfIkl_oA
“There’s
Happiness Over the Hill – performed by George Olsen, with singers Fran Frey,
Bob Borger, and Bob Rice
“I Love
you So Much I Hate You” – sung Gloria Swanson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDdloLn604A --
Other
songs written by Henry Sullivan: “A Page from Jonathan Swift,” “A Picnic in the
Park,” “Ballerina,” “Bow Bells,” “Break Down and Weep,” “Catherine the Great,”
“Caught in the Rain,” “Color Blind,” “Command to Love,” “Coronation Revue,” “Cowboy
Song,” “Eileen Avourneen,” “Falling in Love,” “Flamenco,” “Fanfare,” “Frisco
Fanny, “Going, Going, Gone,” “If Every Month Were June,” “I Like to Learn the Rumba,” “Martinique,”
“Mayfair,” “Merrily We Waltz Along,” “Mona Lisa” (from the show Bow Bells), My
Arab Complex,” “Nightingale, Over the Page, Bring Me A Rose,” “Popcorn and
Lemonade,” “Shake Trouble Away,” “Sing A Happy Song,” “So Nonchalant, “Song of
Heart’s Desire,” “Storm in My Heart,” “A Taste of the Sea,” “There’s Happiness
Over the Hill,” “Time and Tide,” “The Torch Singer (What Do You Think My Heart
is Made Of?), and “Valentine.”
 |
| Howard Dietz |
Collaborators: Hugh Abercrombie, John Murray Anderson, Nicholas Brodzky, Desmond Carter, Monty Collins, Earle Crooker, Walter DeLeon, Howard Dietz, Al Dubin, Ray Eagon, Eddie Eliscu, Roland Leigh, Harry Ruskin
HENRY A. SULLIVAN
DOB: December 7, 1895 (Worcester
DOD: December 1, 1975 (New York New York
This is a work in progress. Comments, corrections,
and suggestions are always welcome. Write to walnutharmonicas@gmail.com Also see: www.jazzriffing.blogspot.com
RESOURCES
See: John
Murray Anderson’s memoir, Out Without My Rubbers On
