Nacio Herb Brown

Ignacio "Nacio" Herb Brown (February 22, 1896 – September 28, 1964) was an American writer of popular songs, movie scores, and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s.

Biography

Ignacio Herb Brown (some sources indicate his birth name was Ignacio Herbert Brown) was born in Deming, New Mexico. In 1901 his family moved to Los Angeles, where he attended Manual Arts High School. His music education started with instruction from his mother, Cora Alice (Hopkins) Brown. Brown first operated a tailoring business (1916), and then became a financially successful realtor, but he always wrote and played. After his first hit "Coral Sea" (1920) and first big hit, "When Buddha Smiles" (1921), he eventually became a full-time composer. He joined The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1927.

In 1928 he was hired to work in Hollywood by MGM and write film scores for the new medium of sound film. For his film work, he often collaborated with lyricist Arthur Freed. Their music is collected for the most part in Singin' in the Rain. He appeared in the MGM variety film The Hollywood Revue of 1929. Brown also worked with Richard A. Whiting and Buddy De Sylva on Broadway Musicals such as Take a Chance.

Along with L. Wolfe Gilbert, Nacio wrote the music for the popular children's television western, Hopalong Cassidy which first aired in 1949.

Nacio Herb Brown died in San Francisco, California, aged 68. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, and into the New Mexico Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2012.

Personal life

Brown was married five times, each ending in divorce. His first was Ruby Porter with whom he had one child (Nacio Herb Brown, Jr.), followed by a marriage to Jeanne Lochart. In the 1930s he was briefly married to actress Anita Page. This marriage was followed by another brief marriage, to Beffie Kellogg. Brown's final marriage was to Georgeann Morris, with whom he had two children (Nacio Jan Brown and Candace Brown).

Published songs and music

• "All I Do Is Dream of You"
• "American Bolero"
• "Avalon Town "
• "Broadway Melody"
• "Broadway Rhythm"
• "Doll Dance"
• "Eadie Was a Lady"
• "Good Morning"
• "I've Got a Feelin’ You’re Foolin"'
• "Love Is Where You Find It"
• "A New Moon Is Over My Shoulder"
• "Make 'Em Laugh"
• "Our Big Love Scene"
• "Pagan Love Song"
• "Paradise" (1931)
• "Singin' in the Rain"
• "Sweetheart Darlin"'
• "Temptation"
• "Wedding of the Painted Doll"
• "When Buddha Smiles" (1921)
• "You Are My Lucky Star"
• "You Stepped Out of a Dream"
• "You Were Meant For Me"

External links

• Nacio Herb Brown at the Internet Movie Database
• Nacio Herb Brown at the Internet Broadway Database
• SHoF page on Nacio Herb Brown
• More complete list of songs on SHoF site
• Hopalong Cassidy Music
• Nacio Herb Brown at Find a Grave