Gordon Clifford

Gordon Clifford (1902–1968) was an American lyricist who wrote music for Hollywood films in the 1930s. His best-known songs include Nacio Herb Brown's "Paradise", Alfred Newman's "Who Am I?" and Harry Barris's "It Must Be True" and "I Surrender Dear".

Clifford was born in Rhode Island and started studying the violin as a child. His first success as a songwriter came in the early 1930s, when Bing Crosby recorded "It Must Be True" and "I Surrender Dear" with Gus Arnheim's orchestra. The latter song has been recorded by many artists and is considered a jazz standard. Pola Negri sang Clifford and Nacio Herb Brown's "Paradise" in the 1931 film A Woman Commands. Although the film was unsuccessful, Bing Crosby's cover version of "Paradise" became a hit.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 28, 1902 (Providence), Died May 11, 1968 (Las Vegas)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1946

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 41 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBVE-61048 10-in. 10/28/1930 It must be true Bing Crosby ; Gus Arnheim Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBVE-61068 10-in. 1/19/1931 I surrender, dear Cocoanut Grove Orchestra ; Bing Crosby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBVE-68315 10-in. 10/13/1931 Who am I? Cole McElroy's Spanish Ballroom Orchestra ; George Eichhorn Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBVE-68318 10-in. 10/14/1931 Was it wrong? Lofner-Harris St. Francis Hotel Orchestra ; Muzzy Marcellino Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BRC-68815 10-in. 3/23/1931 I surrender dear Richard Barry ; Henry Busse Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor BRC-71205 10-in. 12/28/1931 Paradise Leo Reisman Orchestra ; Frances Maddux Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BRC-72244 10-in. 4/6/1932 Paradise Russ Columbo Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BRC-72546 10-in. 5/5/1932 Paradise Dell Lampe Orchestra ; Rob Roy Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-84975 10-in. 11/13/1934 Let's be thankful George Hall ; Hotel Taft Orchestra ; Loretta Lee Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-85011 10-in. 11/12/1934 Let's be thankful Lee Bennett ; Jan Garber Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBS-09647 10-in. 8/16/1937 I surrender, dear Lionel Hampton Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor PBS-036379 10-in. 7/28/1939 Paradise Lou Bring ; Dorothy Lamour Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor BS-037160 10-in. 5/31/1939 Paradise Hal Kemp Orchestra ; Nan Wynn Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-041915 10-in. 8/24/1939 I surrender, dear Hal Derwin ; Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PD6VB-2525 10-in. 7/24/1946 It must be true Mary Lou Williams' Girl Stars Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet lyricist  
Columbia W151249 10-in. 1/28/1931 It must be true Carmen Lombardo ; Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W151286 10-in. 2/6/1931 I surrender, dear Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra ; Helen Rowland Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W151826 10-in. 10/5/1931 Who am I? Ted Wallace and his Campus Boys [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio lyricist  
Columbia W151855 10-in. 10/13/1931 Was it wrong? Anson Weeks Orchestra ; Don Raymond Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W351104 10-in. 9/22/1931 Was it wrong? Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W351109 10-in. 10/8/1931 Who am I? Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio songwriter  
OKeh W404423 10-in. 4/20/1931 I surrender, dear Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W404832 10-in. 1/27/1931 It must be true Ed Kirkeby Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W404838 10-in. 2/9/1931 I surrender, dear Fred Rich Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick VO1039 10-in. 6/25/1931 I surrender, dear Alabama Washboard Stompers Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 41 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Clifford, Gordon," accessed March 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116320.

Clifford, Gordon. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116320.

"Clifford, Gordon." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116320

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