Fred E. Ahlert

Who was Fred E. Ahlert?

Frederick Emil Ahlert was an American composer and songwriter. He received a degree from Fordham Law School, but instead of pursuing a legal career he began work as an arranger, initially for Irving Aaronson and his Commanders and then for composer and band-leader Fred Waring. Ahlert had his first hit song in 1920, and eventually started his own publishing company in 1928.

His songs have been recorded by numerous artists, including Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Fats Waller. Ahlert most frequently collaborated with lyricist Roy Turk, but he also wrote with others including Joe Young and Edgar Leslie.

Ahlert was born and died in New York City, where he lived all his life.

Among his compositions:

I Don't Know Why

I'll Get By

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter

Love, You Funny Thing!

Mean to Me

Walkin' My Baby Back Home

Where the Blue of the Night

Ahlert was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.