Ted Shapiro

Ted Shapiro (October 31, 1899 – May 26, 1980) was an American popular music composer, pianist, and sheet music publisher who also appeared on Broadway. Born in New York City, he was one of at least three children of Joseph and Jennie Shapiro, Jewish immigrants from Kovno, Russia, the city now known as Kaunas, Lithuania.

Shapiro built his early career in Tin Pan Alley and as an accompanist for prominent vaudeville singers, among them Nora Bayes and Eva Tanguay. In 1922 he was hired as accompanist and music director for Sophie Tucker, taking over from the Five Kings of Syncopation on her London tour that year. His professional relationship with Tucker lasted until her death in 1966, during which time he appeared alongside her onstage at the piano, exchanging banter between songs, and composed a number of songs for her.

As a songwriter, Shapiro became a member of ASCAP in 1924. His most widely recognized compositions include "If I Had You," first published in 1928, which continued to be recorded and used in film soundtracks into the twenty-first century, and "Winter Weather," a holiday standard from 1941. Among his other works are "A Handful of Stars," "To You" — written in collaboration with Tommy Dorsey and Benny Davis — "He's Home for a Little While," "Far Away Island," "Sitting in the Sand A-Sunnin'," "Now I'm In Love," "You'll Be Reminded of Me," "Starlight Souvenirs," "This is No Dream," "Dog on the Piano," "Puttin' On the Dog," "Waitin' for Katy," and "Ask Anyone in Love." Several songs were written in collaboration with his second wife, Susan.

In 1941, the same year "Winter Weather" was published, Shapiro appeared on Broadway in the musical High Kickers. Shapiro married Joan Max of Miami, Florida, in Chicago on May 17, 1936. His second marriage took place on December 20, 1953, when he wed Susan Frazier in Miami Shores, Florida. He adopted Susan's three children — John, Lynn, and Jennifer — with John and Lynn being her biological children and Jennifer having been adopted.

Following Tucker's death in 1966, Shapiro retired to Bay Harbor, Florida, where Susan operated a jewelry store called Trifles and Treasures on Kane Concourse. Shapiro died on May 26, 1980, at his home in Bay Harbor at the age of 80.