Biografia
Eddie Dowling was an American composer, songwriter ("Do You Remember?"), author, actor, producer, and director. He served as president of the USO Camp Shows and received honorary degrees from several Roman Catholic institutions, including Boston College, Providence College, Mount Mary College, and Catholic University of America (CUA).
Born Joseph Nelson Goucher as the 14th of 17 children to immigrant parents, he toured the world with the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir of Providence, Rhode Island. His theatrical career was diverse, featuring appearances in vaudeville and Broadway productions such as "She Took a Chance," "Velvet Lady," the "Ziegfeld Follies" (1918 and 1920), "The Girl In the Spotlight," "Blaze of Glory," "Love's Old Song," and "Purple Dust." He authored the plays "The Greater Love" and "Heart of the North," and produced works including "His Double Life," "Big Hearted Herbert," "Richard II," "Shadow and Substance," and "Madame Capet." Dowling wrote librettos for and performed in "Sally, Irene and Mary," and produced, acted in, and composed songs for "Thumbs Up!" He also produced and appeared in "Here Come the Clowns," and produced, directed, and acted in "The Time of Your Life" (Pulitzer Prize, 1940). Additionally, he portrayed Tom Wingfield in the original production of Tennessee Williams's "The Glass Menagerie," alongside Laurette Taylor and Julie Haydon. His stage compositions and librettos included "Honeymoon Lane" and "The Sidewalks of New York."
From 1932 to 1936 and again in 1940, he was national chairman of the stage, screen, and radio division of the Democratic National Committee. Joining ASCAP in 1927, Dowling collaborated musically with James F. Hanley, J. Fred Coots, Victor Herbert, and Bernie Wayne. He wrote or co-wrote songs such as "The Little White House (at the End of Honeymoon Lane)," "Dreams of You," "Half a Moon," "Jersey Walk," "Headin' for Harlem," "Mary Dear," "Wherever You Are," "Little Log Cabin of Dreams," "Row Row With Roosevelt," "Did God Die in Dixie?," "May God Keep You In the Palm of His Hand," "Logic," "Suzie from Sioux City," and "High Up On a Housetop.
