Jimmy Kennedy

One of the pre-eminent British lyricists of the mid-20th century, Jimmy Kennedy was born July 20, 1902, in Omagh, Northern Ireland. Upon graduating from Dublin's Trinity College, he embarked upon careers in teaching and civil service before publishing his first composition, "The Barmaid's Song," in 1930. Collaborator Harry Castling soon introduced him to music publisher Bert Feldman and later that year, Kennedy scored his first hit with "Oh, Donna Clara." "My Song Goes 'Round the World," "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" (which added new lyrics to John Bratton's 1907 melody), and "Pla...