Irving Kahal

Irving Kahal, [b 5 March 1903 in Houtzdale, d 7 February 1942 in New York] was a popular lyricist active in the 1920's and '30's. He is best remembered for his collaborations with composer Sammy Fain which started in 1926 when Kahal was working in vaudeville sketches written by Gus Edwards. Their collaboration was to last 17 years, until Kahal died in 1942.

Among many fine songs, the stand-out was "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me" on which Pierre Norman lent a hand, which was sung by Maurice Chevalier in the film The Big Pond effectively becoming his signature tune, and featured by Frank Sinatra on his magisterial album Songs For Swingin' Lovers. The Fain/Kahal catalogue included: "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella" (1928) with Francis Wheeler, "Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine" (1929) with Willie Raskin, "By a Waterfall" (1930), "When I Take My Sugar to Tea" (1931) with Pierre Norman, "The Night Is Young and You're So Beautiful" (1936), "I Can Dream, Can't I?" (1938) and "I'll Be Seeing You", which was written in 1938 but was a big hit in 1943 especially amongst the nearest and dearest of the servicemen sent to war overseas.