Leonard Whitcup

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Leonard Whitcup
Born(1903-10-12)October 12, 1903
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 6, 1979(1979-04-06) (aged 75)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma materNew York University
Occupation(s)Publisher; composer; lyricist
Years active1923–1977

Leonard Whitcup (1903 – 1979) was a publisher, composer, and lyricist. He was first vice president of the American Guild of Authors and Composers (presently known as the Songwriters Guild of America) as well as the director and treasurer of the National Academy of Popular Music. Among the variety of notable songs he had written or co-written were “Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle”, “Frenesi”,[1] and "Shout Wherever You May Be, I Am An American", which was cited in the Congressional Record on May 5, 1941.[2][3]

“Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle” was a song used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Gene Autry Western Boots and Saddle. It was composed by Teddy Powell, Walter G. Samuels, and Whitcup.[4] "Frenesi" was copyrighted in 1940 by Whitcup as the English language lyrics for the song.[1]

Early life and career

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Whitcup was born on October 12, 1903 in New York City, New York. He would later attend New York University. In 1923, he copyrighted the song "Rain Drops" with words by Max Rutchik.[5] From 1934 to 1977, he wrote or co-wrote a variety of popular songs, some for cinema, television, musical revues, and vaudeville.[6] He wrote or co-wrote the music for a variety of film soundtracks including The Forward Pass (1929) with Walter Samuels and Max Rutchik, Rollin' Plains (1938) in collaboration with Walter G. Samuels and Teddy Powell.[7] In 1947, he co-wrote "Unbelievable" with Elisse Boyd.[8]

In 1950, Whitcup and Dick Manning composed the song "I'll Follow You".[9] Also in 1950, Whitcup and Paul Cunningham wrote "From the Vine Came the Grape".[10] Sweet Moments, Weekend, Italian Style (1965), and the Swedish film Pippi Longstocking (1969).[11] in 1977, Whitcup, Paul Cummingham, and Ray Madison wrote "Orange Blossoms: The Wedding Song".[12]

Whitcup and Max Rutchik composed a variety of songs as "Mac and Lenny" which included "Nize Baby","I've Gotta Have You", and "Go Ahet".[13]

Copyrighted Music (1923-1931)
Title Year Music Lyrics
Rain Drops 1923 Leonard Whitcup Max Rutchik
Somebody Loses but Somebody Wins[14] 1924 Leonard Whitcup Max Rutchik
Try This on Your Piano[15] 1924 Leonard Whitcup Max Rutchik
Tired of the City[16] 1924 Leonard Whitcup Max Rutchik
Sea-Sick[17] 1928 Leonard Whitcup Max Rutchik
Tootache[18] 1928 Leonard Whitcup Max Rutchik
Travelin' to Dixie Land (melody) 1928 Leonard Whitcup
You'll Do (Until He Comes Along)[19] 1928 Leonard Whitcup Max Rutchik

Wes Frazer

Romance Mad[20] 1929 Leonard Whitcup Max Rutchik
Where (melody)[21] 1931 Leonard Whitcup

References

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  1. ^ a b "Registration record E pub. 87590". U.S. Copyright Office. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  2. ^ 1941 Congressional Record, Vol. 87, Page 3552
  3. ^ "Leonard Whitcup, 75, Lyricist, Composer of 'I Am an American'". New York Times. April 10, 1979. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  4. ^ Boots and Saddles (1937) - Soundtracks - IMDb. Retrieved August 16, 2025 – via www.imdb.com.
  5. ^ U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalogue. Time-Period: 1898-1937 Books, Graphic Arts, Music. Drawer Label: WHE-WHITE_G. Card Number: .0652a
  6. ^ Congress, The Library of. "Whitcup, Leonard, 1903-1979 - LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies | Library of Congress, from LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies (Library of Congress)". id.loc.gov. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  7. ^ ""Rollin' Plains" - By Walter G Samuels, Leonard Whitcup, and Teddy Powell - Copyright Quartet Music, Leonard Whitcup Inc., and Tee Pee Music Co. - Song Copyright Information - Easy Song". www.easysong.com. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  8. ^ Boyd, Elisse. UNBELIEVABLE. Words and music: Elisse Boyd & Leonard V. Whitcup, Cecille Music Company, inc. 3Oct47 https://vcc.copyright.gov/browse
  9. ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office (1977). Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series. Part 5: Music July-Dec 1977: Vol 31 No 2 Sec 2 Current and Renewal Registrations. United States Copyright Office. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  10. ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1950). Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series. Part 5B: Unpublished Music Jan-Dec 1950: Vol 4 No 1-2. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  11. ^ "Leonard Whitcup". Discogs. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  12. ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office (1977). Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series. Part 5: Music July-Dec 1977: Vol 31 No 2 Sec 2 Current and Renewal Registrations. United States Copyright Office. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  13. ^ "Mac and Lennie". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  14. ^ U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalogue Time-Period: 1898-1937 Books, Graphic Arts, Music. Drawer Label: WHE-WHITE_G. Card Number: .0655a
  15. ^ U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalogue↵↵Time-Period: 1898-1937 Books, Graphic Arts, Music. Drawer Label: WHE-WHITE_G. Card Number: .0659a
  16. ^ U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalogue Time-Period: 1898-1937 Books, Graphic Arts, Music. Drawer Label: WHE-WHITE_G. Card Number: .0656a
  17. ^ U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalogue Time-Period: 1898-1937 Books, Graphic Arts, Music, Drawer Label: WHE-WHITE_G, Card Number: .0654a
  18. ^ U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalogue Time-Period: 1898-1937 Books, Graphic Arts, Music, Drawer Label: WHE-WHITE_G, Card Number: .0653a
  19. ^ U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalogue Time-Period: 1898-1937 Books, Graphic Arts, Music. Drawer Label: WHE-WHITE_G. Card Number: .0661b
  20. ^ U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalogue Time-Period: 1898-1937 Books, Graphic Arts, Music, Drawer Label: WHE-WHITE_G, Card Number: .0653a
  21. ^ U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalogue Time-Period: 1898-1937 Books, Graphic Arts, Music. Drawer Label: WHE-WHITE_G. Card Number: .0660a