Murray Grand
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Murray Grand (August 27, 1919 - March 7, 2007) was an American singer, songwriter, lyricist, and pianist best known for the song Guess Who I Saw Today.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Grand played piano as a teenager. During World Ward II, he served as and infantryman in U.S. Army and played piano accompaniment for USO Tour stars including Gypsy Rose Lee and Betty Grable. After the war, Grand studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School and worked as a cabaret performer in New York City.
In 1952, he wrote “Guess Who I Saw Today” (with lyrics by Elisse Boyd) for the Broadway musical revue New Faces of 1952. The song has been recorded by Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, and Eydie Gorme among others.
Grand’s other songs include “Hurry”, “April in Fairbanks” “ Boozers and Losers" (written with Cy Coleman), "Thursday's Child", "Too Old to Die Young", "I Always Say Hello to a Flower", "Everything You Want", “Come By Sunday”, "I'd Rather Cha-Cha than Eat", "Comment Allez-Vous" and “Not a Moment Too Soon”. Grand’s songs have been recorded by Peggy Lee, Eartha Kitt, Paula West, Blossom Dearie, Toni Tennille, Eydie Gorme, and Michael Feinstein.
Grand appeared in two Paul Mazursky films: The Tempest and Moscow on the Hudson.
In his later years Grand lived for a time in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he ran a pet food business and continued to perform. He died of emphysema in Santa Monica, California.
[edit] References
- Murray Grand, 87, Composer Variety, March 27,2007.
- Murray Grand Wickedly Witty Cabaret Entertainer The Independent (London), April 6, 2007
- Murray Grand, 87, Relic of Cabaret Scene The New York Sun, March 12, 2007
- Cabaret Composer and Pianist Murray Grand Is Dead at 87 Playbill News, March 29, 2007
