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Robert Allen Deitcher (February 5, 1927 – October 1, 2000) was an American pianist and an arranger and writer of music for popular songs.

Biography

Allen was born to a Jewish family in Troy, New York and had 4 children: a son, Gordon, and 3 daughters, Pamela, Diana, and Katie.

He was an accompanist for Perry Como, Peter Lind Hayes, and Arthur Godfrey. Many of his compositions were collaborations with lyricist Al Stillman. Allen lived in New Rochelle, New York from 1963, much of his professional life. Three of his most famous songs were: "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays","Everybody Loves a Lover" and "Chances Are".

Robert Allen died in Quogue, New York of colon cancer at the age of 73.

Songs written by Robert Allen

Lyrics by Al Stillman

Perry Como hits

• "Noodlin' Rag" (1952)
• "Sweetheart's Holiday" (1952)
• "To Know You (Is to Love You)" (1952, redone in 1959)
• "You Are Never Far Away (From Me)" (1952, redone in 1958)
• "Home for the Holidays" (1954)
• "My One and Only Heart" (1953)
• "You Alone (Solo Tu)" (1953, redone in 1961)
• "Door of Dreams" (1955)

Four Lads hits

• "Enchanted Island" (1958)
• "Moments to Remember" (1955)
• "No, Not Much" (1956)
• "There's Only One of You (1958)
• "Who Needs You?" (1956)

Johnny Mathis hits

• "Chances Are" (1957)
• "It's Not for Me to Say" (1957)
• "Teacher, Teacher" (1958)

Other hits

• "Al's Place" a hit for Al Hirt
• "If Dreams Came True" (a hit for Pat Boone)

With Richard Adler

• "Everybody Loves a Lover" (a hit for Doris Day in 1958 and The Shirelles in 1963)

Others

• "War Eagle" (1954 and 1955) the Auburn University fight song
• "Song for a Summer Night (a hit for Mitch Miller and His Orchestra and Chorus in 1956)
• 'Bob McGrath from Sesame Street' by Bob McGrath (1970)

References

1. ^ "Robert Allen, 73, Whose Songs Were Sung by an Array of Stars - the New York Times". www.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
2. Bloom, Nate (December 22, 2014). "All those Holiday/Christmas Songs: So Many Jewish Songwriters!". Jewish World Review.
3. Music Makers Of New Rochelle

Sources

• ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, 4th ed. R.R. Bowker Company. 1980. ISBN 0-8352-1283-1.

External links

• Obituary of Robert Allen

• American male composers
• American lyricists
• Deaths from colorectal cancer in New York (state)
• Jewish American songwriters
• 1927 births
• 2000 deaths
• Musicians from Troy, New York
• Musicians from New Rochelle, New York
• People from Quogue, New York
• Songwriters from New York (state)
• 20th-century American composers
• 20th-century American male musicians
• 20th-century American Jews
• American male songwriters
• 20th-century American songwriters