Allen, Steve - Official site.  Honored in the 1985 edition of the Guinness Book of Records as the most prolific composer of modern times, Steve Allen wrote more than 8,500 songs during his extraordinary lifetime, including This Could Be The Start of Something Big, Gravy Waltz, The South Rampart Street Parade, and the themes to Picnic, On the Beach, and Bell, Book, and Candle.  Besides his song writing, he was a beloved comedian and the founder of the Tonight Show.  This site details all aspects of his entertainment career. www.steveallenonline.com/

Arlen, Harold - Official site.  Harold Arlen wrote over 400 songs from 1924 through 1976. He worked with 31 different lyricists and composed scores for both Hollywood films and Broadway musicals.  Among his most popular hits are Over the Rainbow, I've Got the World on a String, That Old Black Magic, Come Rain or Come Shine, Get Happy and Stormy Weather.  www.haroldarlen.com/

Berlin, Irving - Biography.  Irving Berlin wrote more than 900 songs, 19 musicals and the scores of 18 movies. Some of his songs that have become classics include God Bless America, There's No Business Like Show Business, Easter Parade, and White Christmas.  He is the top money maker among songwriters in America. In 1924, songwriter Jerome Kern observed "Irving Berlin has no place in American music. He is American music."  www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/berlin.html

Bernstein, Leonard - Official site.  Leonard Bernstein is best known for his work as an orchestra conductor, but he contributed substantially to the Broadway musical stage.  Among the shows to which he contributed are "On The Town," "Wonderful Town," "Candide" and the landmark musical "West Side Story."  www.leonardbernstein.com

Cahn, Sammy - Biographic article.  Sammy Cahn won four Oscars for his songwriting - for 

Three Coins in a Fountain, All the Way from "The Joker Is Wild," High Hopes from "A Hole in the Head" amd Call Me Irresponsible from "Papa's Delicate Conditioin.  Among the other films for which he wrote lyrics are "April in Paris," "Peter Pan," "The Tender Trap," "Love Me or Leave Me," "Anything Goes," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Oceans 11," "Under the Yum Yum Tree," "Come Blow Your Horn," "Come Fly With Me" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie."  www.bestweb.net/~foosie/samycahn.htm

Carmichael, Hoagy - Official site.  Everything you wanted to know about the writer of many popular songs, including my personal favorite to top the list - Star Dust.  Others:  Blue Orchids, Georgia on My Mind, Heart and Soul, In the Cool Cool Cool of the Evening, In the Still of the Night, The Nearness of You and Skylark.  Hoagy Carmichael was also a screen actor, appearing in a number of popular films. www.hoagy.com

Cohan, George M. - Biography.  He was often the toast of Broadway from "Little Johnny Jones" in 1904 through "I'd Rather Be Right" in 1937.  Many of his songs became standards, including Give My Regards to Broadway, Yankee Doodle Dandy, You're a Grand Old Flag, Over There, and Mary's a Grand Old Name.  He performed, wrote, produced and directed for the stage and was himself the subject of a Broadway show - "George M!" and a biographical film - "Yankee Doodle Dandy."   www.musicals101.com/cohan.htm

Coward, Noel - Official site of the Noel Coward Society.  Comprehensive information about Noel Coward's career in the theatre and the Noel Coward Society. www.noelcoward.net

Ebb, Fred - Listings of Ebb lyrics in stage musicals, including "Cabaret," "Zorba," "Chicago," "Woman of the Year," "The Rink" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman." www.eur.com/musicals/lyr-f.cfm?alph=E

Ellington, Duke - Official site of the composer responsible for such hits as Mood Indigo, Sophisticated Lady, Take the "A" Train, I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good) and Don't Get Around Much Anymore.  Site includes biography, achievements, songlist and other information. www.dukeellington.com

Fields, Dorothy - Official site of one of the great Broadway lyricists, who wrote popular songs for revues, films and shows for nearly 50 years.  Her best known songs include I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby; On the Sunny Side of the Street; I'm in the Mood for Love; The Way You Look Tonight; A Fine Romance; Don't Blame Me; Big Spender; and If My Friends Could See Me Now.  Site includes biography, songlist and other information. http://dorothyfields.co.uk/

Gershwin, George & Ira - Official site of the legendary Gershwin brothers who collaborated on a huge number of popular songs, shows and films in the 1920s and 1930s.  Just a few of their Broadway shows include "Lady Be Good," "Strike Up the Band" and "Of Thee I Sing."  Of course, George also wrote such classical standards as Rhapsody in Blue, "An American in Paris" and the opera "Porgy and Bess."  This very extensive site includes a wealth of historical information and a jukebox where you can play dozens of the Gershwin brothers' most beloved songs. www.gershwin.com

Handy, W. C. - Historical article about "The Father of the Blues," who was the first to publish the Saint Louis Blues and whose Memphis band first coined the term "blues" for the type of music they played. www.blues.about.com/library/weekly/aa091500a.htm

Harburg, E. Y. "Yip" - Official site.  Harburg wrote lyrics for over 500 songs, the most famous being Over the Rainbow, April in Paris and Brother Can You Spare a Dime.  He wrote all the lyrics for the movie "The Wizard of Oz" and the state production of "Finian's Rainbow." www.choreographics.com/harburg/

Kern, Jerome - Biographical article about Kern, who composed for Broadway and Hollywood, including the stage musical "Show Boat" and the film musical "Swing Time." www.nodanw.com/biographies/kernjerome

Koehler, Ted - Short biography about this lyricist of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s who penned the words for Stormy Weather and I Love a Parade, among others.  He also wrote for films. www.gold-music.com/fiches/fiche_15595

Lawrence, Jack - Official site.  Writer of popular songs such as All or Nothing at All, Sunrise Serenade, Linda, Symphony and Tenderly.  Site includes biography, songlist and a jukebox where you can play some of his songs. www.jacklawrencesongwriter.com

Loesser, Frank - Official site.  Lots of information about the songwriter behind such Broadway hits as "Guys & Dolls," "The Most Happy Fella" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."  He also wrote lyrics for many popular songs - especially inspirational war songs from World War II - and Hollywood movies, winning an Academy Award for Baby, It's Cold Outside.  Among other hit songs were Heart and Soul and They're Either Too Young or Too Old. www.frankloesser.com

Mancini, Henry - Official site of the Mancini Institute.  Best known for his film music, including songs and scores for "The Pink Panther," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "The Days of Wine and Roses," "Charade" and "Victor/Victoria."  He won 20 Grammy awards and four Oscars.  A composer, conductor and arranger, he also wrote music for such TV shows as "The Thorn Birds," "Peter Gunn," "Remington Steele" and "Newhart.". www.manciniinstitute.org/mancini.cfm

McHugh, Jimmy - One of the most prolific songwriters from the 20s through the 50s.  McHugh wrote for all areas of popular music, including melodies for The Cotton Club, Broadway and Hollywood musicals.  Some of his most memorable tunes are I Can't Give You Anything But Love, A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening, I'm in the Mood for Love, Lovely to Look At, South American Way, I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night and On the Sunny Side of the Street. www.jass.com/jimmymchugh/

Mercer, Johnny - Official site.  Writer of many popular standards, including Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive, Autumn Leaves, Come Rain or Come Shine, Days of Wine and Roses, Fools Rush In, Hooray for Hollywood, I Remember You, I Wanna Be Around, I'm an Old Cowhand, In the Cool Cool Cool of the Evening, Moon River, One for My Baby, The Pink Panther, Something's Gotta Give, Tangerine, That Old Black Magic, Too Marvelous for Words and You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby. www.johnnymercer.com

Parish, Mitchell - Biographical article.  Parish wrote lyrics for such standards as Star Dust, Sophisticated Lady, Deep Purple, Stars Fell on Alabama, Volare and Moonlight Serenade.  He worked with many of the most popular composers in the 30s, 40s and 50s. www.4stardust.com/mitchell.htm

Porter, Cole - Official site.  One of the legends of popular song, Porter wrote nearly 1,000 songs; many for Broadway and Hollywood.  Just a small sample of his standards includes Anything Goes, Begin the Beguine, Can-Can, Don't Fence Me In, From This Moment On, Hey Good Lookin', I Concentrate on You, I Love Paris, In the Still of the Night, It's De-Lovely, Just One of Those Things, Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love), My Heart Belongs to Daddy, Night and Day, Too Darn Hot, You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To and You're the Top.  It's no wonder Cole Porter songs have been staged in a number of revues. www.coleporter.org