Newell Chase

Biography

Songwriter ("My Ideal"), composer, conductor, pianist and organist, educated at Roxbury Latin School, the Huntington School, Boston University, Harvard University and the New England Conservancy. He studied music with Whelpley, Goodrich, Converse, and Serly. He was a church organist and pianist, and also a dance orchestra leader. In 1924 he became assistant conductor at the Capitol Theatre in New York, and was solo pianist for the "Roxy Gang". In 1928 he arrived in Hollywood as a composer and music adviser, scoring for silent films and for radio. In World War II, he was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Joining ASCAP in 1931, his chief musical collaborators included Leo Robin and Richard Whiting. His popular-song compositions also include "Music in the Moonlight", "It's a Great Life If You Don't Weaken", "Weather Man", "Sweet Like You", "As Long As You Believe in Me", "Never Say Die", "Just a Kiss in the Moonlight", "I'll Take Care of You", and "Kitchimikoko Isle".