Charles Kenny

Charles Francis Kenny (June 23, 1898 – January 20, 1992) was an American composer, lyricist, author, and violinist born in Astoria, New York. His career spanned Broadway, radio, and popular songwriting, and he worked extensively in collaboration with his brother, the poet Nick Kenny. Though the two were jointly credited on many song lyrics, Nick contributed the words while Charles composed the music.

Kenny's early professional work in the 1920s included writing music for Cecyl Grimes' Children's Playhouse and composing for radio scripts broadcast on WHN. He also helped produce Nick Kenny Children's Show on WMCA, a program on which Arthur Anderson was among the performers. The Kenny brothers organized child talent from the show to perform at engagements around New York City.

His Broadway career brought him to the stage in 1932, when he appeared as a performer, composer, and book writer in two revues: Belmont Varieties and Manhattan Varieties. Beyond Broadway, Kenny established himself as a prolific songwriter, producing a body of work that included several widely recorded titles. "There's a Gold Mine in the Sky," co-written with Nick Kenny, was published in 1937 and reached number one on Billboard's Sheet-Music Leaders chart for the week ending February 5, 1938, selling nearly one million copies for Bourne Music. The song was recorded by Gene Autry, whose version appeared in his 1938 film Gold Mine in the Sky, as well as by Bing Crosby on November 12, 1937 for Decca, Jimmie Davis, Art Kassel, Pat Boone, Johnny Pfander, and Kate Smith.

Another prominent Kenny composition, "Love Letters in the Sand," featured lyrics by Charles and Nick Kenny set to music by J. Fred Coots. Pat Boone's recording of the song became a hit record. Boone subsequently recorded two additional Kenny compositions, "Cathedral in the Pines" and "There's a Gold Mine in the Sky," in 1957, following his success with "Love Letters in the Sand." Among the brothers' other notable songs were "Laughing at Life" and "Because It's Your Birthday Today," the latter of which was featured in the Our Gang episode Practical Jokers. "While a Cigarette Was Burning," with lyrics by Nick Kenny, became the theme song for the radio program The Chesterfield Supper Club, which ran from 1944 to 1949. "Make-Believe Island," with lyrics by Nick and Charles Kenny and Sam Caslow and music by Will Grosz, served as the theme song for the Jan Savitt Orchestra. "Last Night," co-written with Austen Croom-Johnson, was the theme song for the Joe Venuti Orchestra. "Scattered Toys," with lyrics by Nick Kenny, appeared on the soundtrack of the 1950 Yiddish musical revue film Catskill Honeymoon.

Additional compositions credited to Charles and Nick Kenny include "When You Look in the Heart of a Shamrock" and "Casanova Brown," both with music by Abner Silver; "I'd Like to Be a Cow in Switzerland," with music by Patrick E. Gorman; "Leanin' on the Old Top Rail"; "Gone Fishin'"; "And So Little Time," with music by Abner Silver, recorded by Jerry Wayne; "Nobody Know the Power of Prayer"; "The Old Sailor"; "I'm Planting Little Onions So I Can Cry Over You"; "Ev'ry Street Is Canal Street in Venice"; and "The Moon Is a Golden Coin." The brothers also collaborated on With Sword and Song, a two-act operetta based on the life of Jean Lafitte.

Later in his career, Kenny worked as a radio and television editor at the New York Daily Mirror, the same publication where Nick Kenny served as a columnist. Kenny lived in Easton, Connecticut. He was married to actress Joy Hathaway, with whom he had four children: Charles Francis Jr., John, Kevin, and ZoAnne. ZoAnne died of pneumonia in infancy, and Joy Hathaway died of pneumonia hours after ZoAnne's burial. In 1958, Kenny married Anna Susannah Mahometa. He died in Eatontown, New Jersey, on January 20, 1992.