Robert D. Emmerich

American pianist and composer with the Tommy Dorsey band. Born: 26th July 1904, New York City, USA. Died: 15th May 1988, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, USA. Emmerich wrote many popular recordings, some for Fats Waller and notably with the likes of Buddy Bernier and Joseph Meyer. His song, "The Big Apple", is synonymous with the renowned tag for New York City, coined by sports commentator John J. Fitz Gerald. Self-taught, Robert Emmerich became a popular vaudeville, radio and night club performer who wrote over a hundred songs, including "Our Love", first sung by Dinah Shore and "No.10 Lullaby Lane" sung by Kate Smith. He charted four times as a songwriter: led by the #1 song "The Big Apple by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra in 1937 (co-written by Buddy Bernier). He was also part of a collective that wrote "Hear My Song, Violetta" by The Glenn Miller Orchestra, which hit #9 in 1940 (co-written by Rudolf Luckesch, Othmar Klose, Ermenegildo Carosio, Othmar Klose & Buddy Bernier).