Buddy Gard DeSylva  (1895-1950)
Last updated: 10.01.25
George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva was an American songwriter, film producer and record executive born in New York City.
He was raised in California and studied at the University of Southern California. DeSylva wrote songs initially for by Al Jolson and in 1918 he went to New York to work as a songwriter in Tin Pan Alley and also worked with George Gershwin. Throughout the 1920's and 1930's he produced a string of song hits and motion pictures with various collaborators. In 1942, together with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs he founded Capitol Records.
One of his memorable hits is the eternal If You Knew Susie (1925 words: Joseph Meyer) which was sung by Ella Shields among many others.
He died in Hollywood..
Websites:
url15.gif Buddy DeSylva Biography by wikipedia.org.  
  Title Co-Author(s) Sequencer
       
  Midi File(s) from various sources      
audiomidi15.gif Ain't Love Grand! (1922) W. Donaldson
C. Conrad		 Unknown
audiomidi15.gif Best Things in Life Are Free (1927), The L. Brown
R. Henderson		 James Pitt-Payne
audiomidi15.gif Broken Hearted (1927) L. Brown
R. Henderson		 James Pitt-Payne
audiomidi15.gif Button Up Your Overcoat (1928) Unknown
audiomidi15.gif Don't Cry, Swanee (1923) C. Conrad James Pitt-Payne
audiomidi15.gif Good News (1927) L. Brown
R. Henderson		 James Pitt-Payne
This list is derived from information provided by Monologues.co.uk which went down sometime in 2023.
The loss of this valuable resource is very sad and a mystery.
     Title Attribution Remarks
       
  If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie Buddy Gard DeSylva (music)
Joseph Meyer (words)
Ella Shields (perf.) 		 
     Title Attribution Instruments Source Remarks
           



pdf15.gif
pdf15.gif		 Ain't Love Grand! (1922) B.G. DeSylva (w&m)
W. Donaldson (coauth.)
C. Conrad (coauth.)
A. Jolson (perf.)
A. Jolson (perf.)		 Piano, Voice


IMSLP
Sheet Music Singer		 wvicon.gif
pdf15.gif Best Things in Life Are Free (1927), The B.G. DeSylva (w&m)
L. Brown (coauth.)
R. Henderson (coauth.)		 Piano, Voice Sheet Music Singer wvicon.gif
pdf15.gif Broken Hearted (1927) B.G. DeSylva (w&m)
L. Brown (coauth.)
R. Henderson (coauth.)		 Piano, Voice Sheet Music Singer wvicon.gif
pdf15.gif Button Up Your Overcoat (1928) B.G. DeSylva (music)
R. Henderson (words)		 Piano, Voice Sheet Music Singer Pub.
pdf15.gif Chloe (1919) B.G. DeSylva (music)
A. Jolson (coauth.)
A. Jolson (perf.)		 Piano, Voice Indiana wvicon.gif
pdf15.gif Don't Cry, Swanee (1923) B.G. DeSylva (w&m)
C. Conrad (coauth.)
A. Jolson (perf.)		 Piano, Voice Sheet Music Singer wvicon.gif
pdf15.gif Good News (1927) B.G. DeSylva (w&m)
L. Brown (coauth.)
R. Henderson (coauth.)
George Olsen (perf.)		 Piano, Voice Sheet Music Singer Pub.
pdf15.gif  ⇑I'll Say She Does (1918) B.G. DeSylva (w&m)
G. Kahn (coauth.)
A. Jolson (coauth.)
A. Jolson (perf.)		 Piano, Voice Indiana wvicon.gif
pdf15.gif Just a Cottage Small (1925) B.G. DeSylva (music)
James F. Hanley (words)
John McCormack (perf.)		 Piano, Voice Greer Pub.
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 81 works by Buddy Gard DeSylva (1895-1950). It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: pdf15.gif (w&m)
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
I'll Say She Does (w&m) 1918 Gus Kahn (co-author)
Al Jolson (co-author)
Al Jolson (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif pdf15.gif
It's Wonderful 1918
N' Everything 1918 Gus Kahn (words)
Al Jolson (perf.)
By the Honeysuckle Vine 1919 Al Jolson (perf.)  wvicon.gif
Chloe 1919 Al Jolson (co-author)
Al Jolson (perf.) 		 Pub. pdf15.gif
I Gave Her That 1919 Al Jolson (co-author)
Al Jolson (perf.) 		 Pub.
Oh, You Delicious Little Devil 1919 Alfred Bryan (words)
Mae Murray (perf.) 		 Pub.
You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet (w&m) 1919 Al Jolson (co-author)
Gus Kahn (co-author)
Just Snap Your Fingers at Care 1920  Pub.
Look For the Silver Lining 1920
Ain't Love Grand! (w&m) 1922 Walter Donaldson (co-author)
Con Conrad (co-author)
Al Jolson (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif pdf15.gifpdf15.gif 
⇑ Arcady 1923 Al Jolson (words)
Don't Cry, Swanee (w&m) 1923 Con Conrad (co-author)
Al Jolson (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif pdf15.gif 
I'm Gonna Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (w&m) 1924 Harry Woods (co-author)  wvicon.gif
If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie 1925 Joseph Meyer (words)
Eddie Cantor (perf.)
Jay C. Flippen (perf.)
Willie Howard (perf.)
Al Jolson (perf.)
Jack Rose (perf.)
Ella Shields (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif youtube15.jpg
Just a Cottage Small 1925 James F. Hanley (words)
John McCormack (perf.) 		 Pub. pdf15.gif
Polly of Hollywood 1925 James F. Hanley (words)
Behind the Clouds (w&m) 1926 Benny Davis (co-author)
Ray Welch (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif
It All Depends on You (w&m) 1926 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Phil Baker (perf.)
Betty Burnett (perf.)
Al Jolson (perf.)
Tom Waring (perf.)
Rube Wolf (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif
South Wind (w&m) 1926 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
Why Don't You Marry the Girl? (w&m) 1926 Al Piantadosi (co-author)
Sam Williams (co-author)
Ask Me Another (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 wvicon.gif
Best Things in Life Are Free, The (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
June Allyson (perf.)
Peter Lawford (perf.)
Patricia Marshall (perf.)
Joan McCracken (perf.)
Ray McDonald (perf.)
George Olsen (perf.)
Mel Torme (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif pdf15.gif 
Broken Hearted (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub. pdf15.gif 
Good News (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
George Olsen (perf.) 		 Pub. pdf15.gif 
Here I Am Broken Hearted (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Eddie Cantor (perf.)
Nick Lucas (perf.)
Johnnie Ray (perf.) 		 Pub.
I Wonder How I Look When I'm Asleep (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Lucky in Love (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
June Allyson (perf.)
Peter Lawford (perf.)
Patricia Marshall (perf.)
Joan McCracken (perf.)
Ray McDonald (perf.)
Mel Torme (perf.)
Magnolia (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Oh! Baby Don't We Get Along (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)  Pub.
Plenty of Sunshine (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
⇑ So Blue (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Jessie Crawford (perf.) 		 Pub.
Varsity Drag (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
June Allyson (perf.)
Peter Lawford (perf.)
Patricia Marshall (perf.)
Joan McCracken (perf.)
Ray McDonald (perf.)
Mel Torme (perf.) 		 Pub.
Without You Sweetheart (w&m) 1927 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Because You're Beautiful 1928
Blue Grass 1928  Pub.
Button Up Your Overcoat 1928 Ray Henderson (words)
arr.: Joseph M Weiss		  Pub. pdf15.gif 
Don't Hold Everything 1928
Follow Thru 1928
For Old Times' Sake (w&m) 1928 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
I Could Give Up Anything But You 1928
I Want to Be Bad 1928
Maybe This Is Love 1928
My Lucky Star (w&m) 1928 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 wvicon.gif
My Tonia (w&m) 1928 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Pickin' Cotton (w&m) 1928 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Pompanola 1928
She's a Home Girl (w&m) 1928 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Song I Love, The (w&m) 1928 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Still I'd Love You 1928
That's Just My Way of Forgetting You (w&m) 1928 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
⇑ Then I'll Have Time For You 1928
Together (w&m) 1928 Lew Brown (co-author)
Lionel Barrymore (perf.)
Claudette Colbert (perf.)
Joseph Cotton (perf.)
Jennifer Jones (perf.)
Shirley Temple (perf.)
Robert Walker (perf.)
Monty Woolley (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif
Two Boys 1928
You Wouldn't Fool Me, Would You? 1928
You're the Cream in My Coffee (w&m) 1928 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Aren't We All 1929 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Charles Farrell (perf.)
Janet Gaynor (perf.) 		 Pub.
I'm a Dreamer, Aren't We All? (w&m) 1929 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
I'm in Seventh Heaven (w&m) 1929 B.G. DeSylva (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Al Jolson (perf.) 		 Pub.
If I Had a Talking Picture of You (w&m) 1929 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Charles Farrell (perf.)
Janet Gaynor (perf.) 		 Pub.
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
Little Pal (w&m) 1929 Al Jolson (co-author)
Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Al Jolson (perf.)
Davey Lee (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif
My Sin (w&m) 1929 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Belle Baker (perf.) 		 Pub. youtube15.jpg
Sunny Side Up (w&m) 1929 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Charles Farrell (perf.)
Janet Gaynor (perf.) 		 Pub.
Turn on the Heat 1929 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Why Can't You? (w&m) 1929 Al Jolson (co-author)
Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Al Jolson (perf.)
Davey Lee (perf.) 		 Pub.
Don't Tell Her What's Happened to Me (w&m) 1930 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
I Am Only the Words, You Are the Melody (w&m) 1930 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Minnie the Mermaid 1930
Never Swat a Fly (w&m) 1930 Lew Brown (co-author)  Pub.
Thank Your Father 1930 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
There's Something About an Old Fashioned Girl (w&m) 1930 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
⇑ Wasn't It Beautiful While It Lasted? 1930 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Without Love 1930 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
You Are the Melody I Am Only the Words 1930 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Frank Albertson (perf.)
El Brendel (perf.)
John Garrick (perf.)
Maureen O'Sullivan (perf.)
Marjorie White (perf.) 		 Pub.
Come to Me (w&m) 1931 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author)
Gloria Swanson (perf.) 		 Pub.
One More Time (w&m) 1931 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
You Try Somebody Else (w&m) 1931 Lew Brown (co-author)
Ray Henderson (co-author) 		 Pub.
Be Careful (w&m) 1933 Leo Robin (co-author)
Richard A. Whiting (co-author) 		 wvicon.gif
Gather Lip Rouge While You May 1933 Leon Robin (co-author)
Richard A Whiting (co-author)
Wishing 1939 Charles Boyer (perf.)
Irene Dunne (perf.) 		 wvicon.gif
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
If You Look in Her Eyes ?
     Composer Title Performer
       
youtube15.jpg B.G. DeSylva If You Knew Susie (1925) (3:06) Ella Shields
youtube15.jpg B.G. DeSylva My Sin (1929) (2:48) Belle Baker