'Stompin' At The Savoy' who wrote it?

BENNY GOODMAN

The listed composers for the big band hit "Stompin' at the Savoy" are: lyrics by Andy Razaf, music by Benny Goodman, Chick Webb and Edgar Sampson.

This 1934 standard was however, totally and completely composed by Edgar Sampson. So why is Benny Goodman's name listed as a co-composer of the music? The answer is simply "money."  We find that Goodman and Webb had their names added to the song when their bands promoted and  recorded it. Unusual?  No, not at all... it was all too common in the music business to share the composing royalties with performers and managers.

Al Jolson is listed as a composer on a number of the songs he featured in his act.  Many question Irving Berlin....did he personally write more than 1500 successful songs? At one of my recent lectures an attendee claimed a relative had sold a song to Berlin for $25.


The tune, of course, is named after the famous Savoy Ballroom in New York's Harlem. Again, the music was written and arranged for Chick Webb's band by Sampson, who was the band's alto saxophonist. It was recorded as an instrumental by both Webb and Benny Goodman, whose recording was the bigger hit. Lyrics were added by Razaf later.

 Stompin' At The Savoy

Benny Goodman

Lyrics by: Andy Razaf

Music by: Benny Goodman (?)

Music by: Chick Webb (?)

Music by: Edgar Sampson



Savoy, the home of sweet romance,

Savoy, it wins you with a glance,

Savoy, gives happy feet a chance to dance.



Your old form just like a clinging vine,

Your lips so warm and sweet as wine,

Your cheek so soft and close to mine, divine.



How my heart is singing,

While the band is swinging,

I'm never tired of romping,

And stomping with you at the Savoy.

What joy - a perfect holiday,

Savoy, where we can glide and sway,

Savoy, let me stomp away with you;



The home of sweet romance,

It wins you at a glance,

Gives happy feet a chance to dance.

Just like a clinging vine,

So soft and sweet as wine,

So soft and close to mine, divine.



How my heart is singing,

While the band is swinging,

I'm never, never, never tired of romping,

And stomping with you at the Savoy.

What joy - a perfect holiday,

Savoy, where we can glide and sway,

Savoy, let me stomp away with you;



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