Robert Sour

Robert Sour (1905 – 1985) was a lyricist and composer, and the president of Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI). He was also one of the jurors in the murder trial of Eddie Lee Mays, who became the last man executed in New York.

In 1940 Sour worked for Broadcast Music as its lyrics editor, and by 1966 had risen through company ranks to become BMI's president. Two years later he had become the company's vice chairman and was instrumental in establishing BMI's musical theater workshop He retired in 1970.

Working with lyricists Edward Heyman and Frank Eyton and composer Johnny Green, Sour wrote the lyrics to the ballad "Body and Soul" from the 1930 revue, Three's A Crowd. In partnership with Una Mae Carlisle (1915–1956), he also composed lyrics for the song "Walkin' by the River", which became a radio hit as sung by Syliva Froos (1927–2004) in 1941. Ella Fitzgerald recorded "Walkin' by the River" for Decca Records, with Leroy Kirkland directing the orchestra. Benny Carter also recorded "Walkin", with Carlisle on vocals. Sour composed music and lyrics for both film and theater; along with Henry Katzman, he wrote the soundtrack sections "Twitterpated" and "Thumper's Song" for the Walt Disney Productions animated feature Bambi (1942).

Birth and Death Data: Born October 31, 1905 (New York City), Died March 6, 1985 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 40 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-62370 10-in. 7/26/1930 Body and soul Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo (takes 15-17); with male vocal solo (takes 1-14) lyricist  
Victor BVE-63625 10-in. 9/5/1930 Body and soul Helen Morgan Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BS-82303 10-in. 4/10/1934 You're my relaxation Henry King Orchestra ; Joseph Sudy Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-053798 10-in. 1/2/1941 Come down to earth, my angel Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBS-055144 10-in. 10/30/1940 Walkin' by the river Janet Blair ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBS-055203 10-in. 12/9/1940 Come down to earth, my angel Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Eddie Stone Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBS-055491 10-in. 3/26/1941 Sing a song of spring Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Eddie Stone Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-057059 10-in. 10/30/1940 Walkin' by the river Mitchell Ayres ; Fashions-in-Music ; Tommy Taylor Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-057641 10-in. 11/13/1940 Walkin' by the river Una Mae Carlisle Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor BS-059286 10-in. 3/5/1941 We could make such beautiful music Wayne King Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal lyricist  
Victor BS-063837 10-in. 5/1/1941 I see a million people (but all I can see is you) Una Mae Carlisle Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet lyricist  
Victor BS-064065 10-in. 4/11/1941 Where's the captain's hat? Art Kassel Trio ; Marion Holmes ; Kassels-in-the-Air Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo, male vocal trio, and vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-064675 10-in. 8/6/1941 I see a million people (But all I can see is you) Allan DeWitt ; Jan Savitt ; Top Hatters Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-066137 10-in. 6/24/1941 I see a million people (but all I can see is you) Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-067761 10-in. 9/9/1941 Body and soul NBC Dixieland Octet ; Henry Levine ; Dinah Shore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-067964 10-in. 10/3/1941 Coffee and cakes Una Mae Carlisle Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet lyricist  
Victor BS-068190 10-in. 11/12/1941 Coffee and cakes Frances Claire ; Sam Donahue Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-071911 10-in. 2/13/1942 Sweet talk Una Mae Carlisle Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet lyricist  
Victor BS-073714 10-in. 3/18/1942 Sweet talk Ray Kellogg ; Sonny Dunham Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor D6VB-1876 10-in. 5/14/1946 Body and soul Mel Henke Piano solo, with string bass lyricist  
Victor D6VB-2166 10-in. 9/30/1946 Body and soul Tex Beneke ; Glenn Miller Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D6VB-2713 10-in. 8/30/1946 We could make such beautiful music Betty Norton ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D6VB-3380 10-in. 12/6/1946 Body and soul Eric Siday Orchestra ; Eric Siday Female vocal solo, with jazz quintet lyricist  
Victor D7VB-1273 10-in. 7/11/1947 Body and soul Perry Como ; Lloyd Shaffer Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D9VB-0045 10-in. 1/6/1949 Body and soul Charlie Ventura Bop for the People Instrumental ensemble, with baritone saxophone solo lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 40 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Sour, Robert," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100744.

Sour, Robert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100744.

"Sour, Robert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100744

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