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Hy Heath
Hy Heath
Hy Heath
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Walter Henry "Hy" Heath (July 9, 1890 – April 3, 1965[1]) was an American entertainer, songwriter, composer and writer. Born in Oakville, Tennessee, he received his education in public schools and then became a comedian in musical comedy, vaudeville, minstrel and burlesque shows. Hy performed with fellow Vaudevillian and longtime family friend Dan White (actor) during the late 1920s into the early 1930s.

His chief musical collaborators included Johnny Lange and Fred Rose. His most successful composition was "Mule Train" which earned him an Academy Award nomination (it was featured in the 1950 film Singing Guns).

Another of his many popular songs which he composed was "The Hills of Utah" which was sung by Ken Curtis in the Hollywood western Stallion Canyon starring Ken Curtis and Carolina Cotton.[2]

Death

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Walter died on April 3, 1965 in Los Angeles, CA at the age of 74. He was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA

References

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Hy Heath

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Hy Heath (April 9, 1890 – April 1, 1965) was an American songwriter, composer, author, and entertainer known for co-writing several popular songs in the mid-20th century, including the major hits "Mule Train," "Take These Chains from My Heart," and "Somebody Bigger Than You and I." He was born Hiram Henry Heath in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and educated in public schools before embarking on an early career as a comedian performing in musical comedy, vaudeville, minstrel, and burlesque shows. Transitioning to songwriting, Heath collaborated frequently with partners such as Johnny Lange and Fred Rose, producing a diverse catalog of compositions that spanned popular and country music. Among his other notable works are "Clancy Lowered the Boom" and "There'll Be No New Tunes on This Old Piano," with his songs recorded by prominent artists of the time. He died in 1965.

Early life

Birth and background

Walter Henry Heath, professionally known as Hy Heath, was born on July 9, 1890, in Oakville, Tennessee, USA. He received his education in public schools. Limited details are available regarding his early family life or upbringing beyond these basic facts.

Vaudeville and early performance career

After receiving his education in public schools, Hy Heath entered the entertainment industry as a comedian. He performed in musical comedy, vaudeville, minstrel, and burlesque shows during the early phase of his career. These live performance experiences preceded his later transition to songwriting.

Songwriting career

Transition to songwriting

After establishing himself as a comedian in vaudeville, musical comedy, minstrel shows, and burlesque performances, Hy Heath transitioned to a career as a songwriter and composer. This shift moved him away from onstage entertaining toward creating music, where he collaborated with lyricists and developed original compositions during the 1940s. He became active as a songwriter in the mid-1940s, with his works first appearing in recordings around that time, signifying the establishment of his new professional direction following his earlier performance career. Heath also pursued work as an author alongside his songwriting, expanding his creative output beyond the stage. By the late 1940s, his songwriting had gained traction in the popular music scene, setting the foundation for subsequent collaborations and successes.

Key collaborations and major hits

Hy Heath's most notable songwriting collaborations were with Johnny Lange and Fred Rose. His chief success came from "Mule Train," co-written with Johnny Lange and Fred Glickman in 1949, first recorded that year by Buz Butler and Cass County Boys but achieving widespread popularity through Frankie Laine's version. "Mule Train" earned Heath an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. He frequently partnered with Lange on other works, including "Clancy Lowered the Boom," written in 1949 and made famous by Dennis Day's performances on The Jack Benny Program. Another collaboration with Lange, alongside Sonny Burke, produced the gospel standard "Somebody Bigger Than You and I." With Fred Rose, Heath co-wrote "Take These Chains from My Heart," recorded by Hank Williams in 1952 during one of his final sessions and released posthumously in 1953. These songs represent his signature hits, showcasing his knack for memorable cowboy, novelty, and sentimental tunes.

Other compositions

Hy Heath composed a number of additional songs beyond his most prominent hits, frequently in collaboration with songwriters such as Johnny Lange and Fred Rose. These include "The Little Red Fox (N'ya N'ya Ya Can't Catch Me)", "Loaded Pistol", "Uncle Remus", "The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along", "Benny the Beaver", "Deacon Jones", "Every Hour, Every Day", "Be Goody Good Good to Me", "I'll Never Stand In Your Way", "Faithless Johnny Lee", "Run Boy!", "I Gave My Wedding Dress Away", "Jole John", "Heartless Romance", and "When Johnny Toots His Horn". "I Gave My Wedding Dress Away", co-written with Fred Rose, was first recorded and released by Kitty Wells in 1953. "The Little Red Fox (N'ya N'ya Ya Can't Catch Me)" featured lyrics by James V. Kern, Hy Heath, and Johnny Lange with music by Lew Porter. Heath also published "The Bob and Joe Song Book", a collection containing fifteen songs.

Film and media contributions

Songwriting credits in films

Hy Heath received a songwriting credit for the Disney film Song of the South (1946), where he co-wrote the song "Uncle Remus Said" with Johnny Lange and Eliot Daniel. The song was performed by the Hall Johnson Choir and featured in the production. He also held a writer credit on the Western film Stallion Canyon (1949), for which he additionally composed the song "The Hills of Utah" performed by the cast including Ken Curtis and Carolina Cotton.

Soundtrack usages and later appearances

Hy Heath's songs have continued to appear in film and television soundtracks long after their initial releases, demonstrating their lasting appeal across genres. "Take These Chains from My Heart," co-written with Fred Rose, was featured in Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom (2012), performed by Hank Williams. It also appeared in the documentary series The Beatles: Get Back (2021). "I Gave My Wedding Dress Away," another collaboration with Fred Rose, was used in the soundtrack for State of Grace (1990), performed by Eileen Reid and The Cadets. The gospel-influenced "Somebody Bigger Than You and I," written with Johnny Lange and Sonny Burke, featured in the 1996 film The Preacher's Wife. "Mule Train" was prominently included in Singing Guns (1950) and has appeared in later productions such as Wish You Were Here (1987), Mac (1992), and A Midwinter's Tale (1995).

Awards and recognition

Oscar nomination

Hy Heath received an Academy Award nomination in the category of Best Original Song (then known as Music, Song) for "Mule Train," co-written with Fred Glickman and Johnny Lange, from the 1950 film Singing Guns. This nomination occurred at the 23rd Academy Awards, held in 1951 to honor achievements in films from the previous year. "Mule Train" was one of five songs nominated that year, recognizing its popular success and integration into the Western genre film. This remains Heath's only documented Academy Award nomination.

Personal life and death

Later years

Hy Heath resided in Los Angeles, California during his later years. Detailed information on his personal life, activities, or any potential retirement from songwriting in this period remains scarce, with biographical sources offering few specifics beyond his earlier career contributions. His compositions continued to see reuse in recordings and media, sustaining their legacy into later decades.

Death

Hy Heath died on April 3, 1965, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 74. No further details about the circumstances of his death are documented in available sources.
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