Harold Arlen : NPR

Remembering Harold Arlen, The Mystery Man Behind 'Over The Rainbow'

Composer Harold Arlen (sitting, right) joins Judy Garland, Bert Lahr (far left), Ray Bolger (back row, left) and various executives for a Wizard of Oz sing-along in the NBC radio studio, circa 1939. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Music News

Remembering Harold Arlen, The Mystery Man Behind 'Over The Rainbow'

November 7, 2015 • Arlen had major hits, won an Oscar and was called "the most original of all of us" by none other than George Gershwin, but he never became a household name.

Remembering Harold Arlen, The Mystery Man Behind 'Over The Rainbow'

Listen · 8:20 8:20

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/455017504/455120221" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Music

The Legacy of 'Over the Rainbow'

February 15, 2005 • The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz became an instant classic with the help of the music of composer Harold Arlen. Commentator Rob Kapilow says that one of the songs, in particular, stands out above the rest. He pays tribute to Arlen's "Over the Rainbow."

The Legacy of 'Over the Rainbow'

Audio will be available later today.

Music

Centennial of Songwriter Harold Arlen

February 15, 2005 • The songwriter Harold Arlen was born 100 years ago Tuesday. Arlen isn't as well known as some of his contemporaries, but you probably know his songs.

Centennial of Songwriter Harold Arlen

Listen

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4499686/4499687" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music

Harold Arlen, 'Come Rain or Come Shine'

February 15, 2005 • With a catalogue of more than 400 songs, including "Over the Rainbow," "Stormy Weather," and "Get Happy," the timeless music of Harold Arlen has kept America swinging, and singing, for decades. NPR marks the centennial of the songwriter's birth with an hour-long special.

Harold Arlen, 'Come Rain or Come Shine'

Only Available in Archive Formats.

Bert Lahr (far right), Ray Bolger (back row, right), Judy Garland (sitting, right), composer Harold Arlen (sitting left), and various MGM and music publishing executives sing songs from the 1939 film musical 'The Wizard of Oz' around a microphone in the NBC radio studio, circa 1939. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The NPR 100

'The Wizard Of Oz'

December 18, 2000 • Author John Fricke tells the stories behind the beloved classic songs of The Wizard of Oz.

'The Wizard Of Oz'

Listen

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1115681/18659730" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

'St. Louis Woman'

June 21, 2000 • Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia has resurrected the stage show Saint Louis Woman The original 1946 show was a doomed collaboration between Harlem Renaissance writers Arna Bontemps and Countee Cullen and popular songwriters Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. It toured the country briefly, flopped on Broadway and was shelved for more than 50 years. Yet it produced one of the great popular songs of all time: "Come Rain or Come Shine." Elizabeth Perez Luna reports from member station WHYY.

'St. Louis Woman'

Only Available in Archive Formats.

Real Media

Actress and singer Judy Garland wearing as Dorothy from director Victor Fleming's film, The Wizard of Oz. Wikimedia Commons hide caption

toggle caption

Wikimedia Commons

What Makes It Great

'Over The Rainbow,' From Kansas To Oz

October 15, 2008 • In the first entry of the series What Makes It Great, pianist and composer Rob Kapilow uncovers the secret to the success of "Over the Rainbow."

Hear 'Over the Rainbow' And What Makes It So Great

10:09

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94281015/95478263" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">