Harold Arlen

Harold Arlen, born Hyman Arluck on February 15, 1905, was an American composer known for his contributions to popular music and the Great American Songbook. He composed over 500 songs, including 'Over the Rainbow' from The Wizard of Oz, for which he won an Oscar. Arlen's career began in Buffalo, New York, where he played piano and sang, eventually moving to NYC to work in vaudeville. His music was featured in Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, and at the Cotton Club in Harlem.