Leonard Whitcup

Leonard Whitcup (1903 – 1979) was a publisher, composer, and lyricist. He was first vice president of the American Guild of Authors and Composers (presently known as the Songwriters Guild of America) as well as the director and treasurer of the National Academy of Popular Music. Among the variety of notable songs he had written or co-written were “Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle”, “Frenesi”,^[1] and "Shout Wherever You May Be, I Am An American", which was cited in the Congressional Record on May 5, 1941.^[2][3]

Leonard Whitcup
Born	(1903-10-12)October 12, 1903 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	April 6, 1979(1979-04-06) (aged 75) New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation(s)	Publisher; composer; lyricist
Years active	1923–1977

“Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle” was a song used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Gene Autry Western Boots and Saddle. It was composed by Teddy Powell, Walter G. Samuels, and Whitcup.^[4] "Frenesi" was copyrighted in 1940 by Whitcup as the English language lyrics for the song.^[1]

Early life and career

Whitcup was born on October 12, 1903 in New York City, New York. He would later attend New York University. In 1923, he copyrighted the song "Rain Drops" with words by Max Rutchik.^[5] From 1934 to 1977, he wrote or co-wrote a variety of popular songs, some for cinema, television, musical revues, and vaudeville.^[6] He wrote or co-wrote the music for a variety of film soundtracks including The Forward Pass (1929) with Walter Samuels and Max Rutchik, Rollin' Plains (1938) in collaboration with Walter G. Samuels and Teddy Powell.^[7] In 1947, he co-wrote "Unbelievable" with Elisse Boyd.^[8]

In 1950, Whitcup and Dick Manning composed the song "I'll Follow You".^[9] Also in 1950, Whitcup and Paul Cunningham wrote "From the Vine Came the Grape".^[10] Sweet Moments, Weekend, Italian Style (1965), and the Swedish film Pippi Longstocking (1969).^[11] in 1977, Whitcup, Paul Cummingham, and Ray Madison wrote "Orange Blossoms: The Wedding Song".^[12]

Whitcup and Max Rutchik composed a variety of songs as "Mac and Lenny" which included "Nize Baby","I've Gotta Have You", and "Go Ahet".^[13]

Copyrighted Music (1923-1931)

Title	Year	Music	Lyrics
Rain Drops	1923	Leonard Whitcup	Max Rutchik
Somebody Loses but Somebody Wins[14]	1924	Leonard Whitcup	Max Rutchik
Try This on Your Piano[15]	1924	Leonard Whitcup	Max Rutchik
Tired of the City[16]	1924	Leonard Whitcup	Max Rutchik
Sea-Sick[17]	1928	Leonard Whitcup	Max Rutchik
Tootache[18]	1928	Leonard Whitcup	Max Rutchik
Travelin' to Dixie Land (melody)	1928	Leonard Whitcup
You'll Do (Until He Comes Along)[19]	1928	Leonard Whitcup	Max Rutchik Wes Frazer
Romance Mad[20]	1929	Leonard Whitcup	Max Rutchik
Where (melody)[21]	1931	Leonard Whitcup