Nancy Hamilton Sheet Music

About Nancy Hamilton

Nancy Hamilton was an accomplished American lyricist, playwright, actress, and director, primarily recognized for her significant contributions to Broadway revues and popular song during the mid-20th century. Her work often blended witty lyrics with memorable melodies, firmly establishing her place within the Great American Songbook. She is especially celebrated for penning the lyrics to the enduring jazz standard "How High the Moon," a song that has captivated audiences and musicians for decades.

  • Nancy Hamilton was a woman of many talents, also working as a singer, writer, producer, and film director.
  • She wrote the sketches and lyrics for three successful Broadway revues in collaboration with composer Morgan Lewis: "One for the Money" (1939), "Two for the Show" (1940), and "Three to Make Ready" (1946). These revues helped launch the careers of notable performers such as Gene Kelly and Alfred Drake.
  • Beyond her musical achievements, Hamilton directed the 1954 documentary film "Helen Keller In Her Story" (also known as "The Unconquered"), which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1955.
  • Her most famous lyric, "How High the Moon," co-written with Morgan Lewis, became a massive hit for Les Paul and Mary Ford in the 1950s and was recognized with the Towering Song Award by the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997.

Playing Nancy Hamilton's music offers a rewarding experience for musicians of various skill levels, particularly those interested in jazz standards, show tunes, and classic American popular song. Her lyrics are clever and evocative, providing excellent opportunities for vocalists to explore storytelling and phrasing. Instrumentalists, from intermediate to advanced, will find her compositions, especially "How High the Moon," to be rich ground for improvisation and harmonic exploration, making them staples in jazz ensembles and jam sessions. Her works are ideal for performers looking to delve into the golden age of American songwriting, offering both technical challenge and immense musical satisfaction.

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