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McHugh (Jimmy) Musical Scores Collection
MS.1989.001  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Arrangement
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Scope and Contents

  • Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives
    Title: Jimmy McHugh Musical Scores Collection
    Identifier/Call Number: MS.1989.001
    Physical Description: 8 Linear Feet
    Date (inclusive): 1894-1969
    Abstract: The Jimmy McHugh Collection of Sheet Music consists of over 550 songs from the late 19th century to the early 1970s.
    Language of Material: English .

    Conditions Governing Use

    Jimmy McHugh Musical Scores Collection is the physical property of California State University, Los Angeles, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Special Collections and Archives.

    Preferred Citation

    Folder title, Series, Box number, Collection title, followed by Special Collections and Archives, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, California State University, Los Angeles

    Arrangement

    The collection is organized into three series: I. Musical and Movie Scores; II. Other Scores; III. Doucments; IV: LP Record.

    Biographical / Historical

    Jimmy Francis McHugh was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 10th, 1893 and is hailed as one of the most popular Irish-American songwriters since Victor Herbert. His father was a plumber and his mother was an accomplished pianist. His career began when he was promoted from a office boy to a rehearsal pianist at the Boston Opera House. As his desire was to write and perform "popular" music, he left the job in 1917 to become a pianist and song plugger in Boston with the Irving Berlin publishing company. In 1921, he moved to New York after getting married and started working for Jack Mills Inc. where he published his first song, Emaline. The song was so popular that he was promoted to a professional manager, teaming up with Irving Mills to release the hit song, Everything is Hotsy Totsy Now – the two becoming known as the Hotsy Totsy Boys. Between the years of 1922 and 1930, McHugh wrote songs for at least nine difference shows, and expanded out to writing for movies, My Dream of the Big Parade. His music career took off when he partnered with Dorothy Fields, a lyricist in 1927, and produced their first hit I Can't Give You Anything But Love, written for the all-black Blackbirds of 1928 musical. In the early 1930s, they moved into the Hollywood movie scene; however, Fields preferred the Broadway scene and returned to New York after some years. McHugh went on to partner with Harold Adamson to produce songs for classic 1930s movies for fifteen years. McHugh died in Beverly Hills on March 23rd, 1969 after writing more than 280 songs. He was nominated five times for the Academy Award, but unfortunately never won. The Jimmy McHugh Collection of Sheet Music consists of over 550 songs from the late 19th century to the early 1970s.

    Scope and Contents

    During June 1989, Cal State LA received the Jimmy McHugh Collection of Sheet Music from Lucille Meyers, Manager of Jimmy McHugh Music Inc.
    Series Description Series I: Musical and Movie Scores Inclusive Dates: 1914-1969 Arrangement: Alphabetical
    This large series consists of individual sheet music pieces that are parts of larger collections pertaining to musical and movie scores. These individual songs are grouped with songs of the same musical or movie title.
    Series II: Other Scores Inclusive Dates: 1894 - 1969
    Arrangement: Alphabetical This series consists of books and scores that are not associated with a musical or movie title.
    Series III: Documents Inclusive Dates: 1938
    Arrangement: Alphabetical thereunder chronological This small series consists of biogoraphical documents and correspondence.
    Series IV: LP Record Inclusive Dates: u.d.
    Arrangement: Alphabetical This series consists of the collection's single LP record, A Symphonic Portrait of Jimmy McHugh.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Music--United States
    Sheet music