Raymond B. Egan

Lyricist Raymond B. Egan was born in Windsor Ontario on November 14, 1890. Moving to the US in 1892, Egan’s family settled in Michigan where he attended college at the University of Michigan. After graduation, Egan worked as a bank clerk and then as a staff writer for Ginnells Music Co., in Detroit.

Moving to New York City in the early 1920’s, Egan contributed songs for Broadway musicals such as Robinson Crusoe, Jr., Silks and Satins, Holka Polka and Earl Carroll’s Sketch Book of 1935. He also provided songs for films including Paramount on Parade, Red Headed Woman and The Prizefighter and the Lady. However, his focus was writing popular standards without the confines of a book and score.

Throughout the 20’s and into the 1930’s, Egan collaborated with several composers including Walter Donaldson, Ted Fiorito, Harry Tierney, Richard Whiting and Gus Kahn.

Highlights from his catalog include “They Called it Dixieland”, “Mammy’s Little Coal Black Rose”, “Till We Meet Again”, “Where the Morning Glories Grow”, “Ain’t We Got Fun?”, “Japanese Sandman”, “In a Little While”, “Tea Leaves”, “Sleepy Time Gal”, “You’re Still an Old Sweetheart of Mine”, “Some Sunday Morning”, “Three on a Match”, “Somebody’s Wrong”, “Tell Me Why You Smile, Mona Lisa”, “Dear Old Gal, Who’s Your Pal Tonight?”, “There Ain’t No Maybe in My Baby’s Eyes”, “I Never Knew I Could Love Anybody”, “Downstream Drifter” and “Red Headed Woman.”

Raymond Egan died in Westport, Connecticut on October 13, 1952.