James V. Monaco

Who was James V. Monaco?

James Vincent Monaco was an Italian-born American composer of popular music.

Monaco was born in Fornia, Italy; his family emigrated to Albany, New York when he was six. He worked as a ragtime player in Chicago before moving to New York. Monaco's first successful song "Oh, You Circus Day" was featured in the 1912 Broadway revue Hanky Panky. Further success came with "Row, Row, Row" in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1912. Perhaps his best remembered song is "You Made Me Love You", introduced by Al Jolson in 1913 and performed by Judy Garland with revised lyrics as "Dear Mr Gable" in 1937.

Monaco worked with a number of lyricists before moving to Hollywood where he teamed with lyricist Johnny Burke to produce songs for several Bing Crosby films.

Monaco died in Beverly Hills, California.