Ted Shapiro

Ted Shapiro (October 31, 1899 – May 26, 1980) was a United States popular music composer, pianist, and sheet music publisher.

Early life

Shapiro was born on October 31, 1899, in New York City.<ref name="Vaché">Template:Cite book</ref> He became a Tin Pan Alley songwriter and accompanied notable star vaudeville singers of the day, including Nora Bayes and Eva Tanguay.<ref name="Vaché"/> Shapiro was hired as accompanist and music director for Sophie Tucker; replacing the "Five Kings of Syncopation" on her 1922 tour to London.<ref name="Tucker">Template:Cite book</ref> Shapiro worked with Tucker until her death in 1966,<ref name=jasen>Template:Cite book</ref> appearing at the piano on stage with her, exchanging banter and wisecracks between songs. Shapiro also wrote a number of songs for Tucker.<ref name="Tucker"/>

Popular compositions

Ted Shapiro became a member of ASCAP in 1924.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> His biggest hits were the holiday standard "Winter Weather" from 1941, and "If I Had You", first published in 1928, which continues to be covered by new recording artists and used in movie soundtracks into the 21st century. His other successful tunes and songs include "He's Home for a Little While", "A Handful of Stars", "To You", written with Tommy Dorsey and Benny Davis, "Far Away Island", "Sitting in the Sand A-Sunnin'", "Now I'm In Love", ""You'll Be Reminded of Me", "Starlight Souvenirs", "This is No Dream", "Dog on the Piano",<ref name=jasen/> "Puttin' On the Dog", "Waitin' for Katy", and "Ask Anyone in Love".<ref name="Vaché"/>

Personal

Ted Shapiro was one of at least three children of Joseph and Jennie Shapiro.Template:Citation needed His parents were Jewish immigrants from Kovno, Russia (now Kaunas, Lithuania).Template:Citation needed He was married twice. He married Joan Max of Miami, Florida in Chicago, Illinois, on May 17, 1936.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> On December 20, 1953, he married Susan Frazier in Miami Shores, Florida.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Shapiro retired to Bay Harbor, Florida in 1966 following the death of Sophie Tucker.<ref name="retirement">Template:Cite journal</ref> There his wife Susan Shapiro (b. November 4, 1923), a jewelry designer, owned and operated a store called Trifles and Treasures on Kane Concourse.<ref name="retirement"/> Some of his songs were written in collaboration with his wife Susan.Template:Citation needed Ted adopted Susan's three children: John, Lynn and Jennifer. John and Lynn are Susan's biological children, while Jennifer was adopted.Template:Citation needed

Ted Shapiro died on May 26, 1980, at his home in Bay Harbor, Florida, at age of 80.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>