Biography
Victor Schertzinger came into the world in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, in 1890, eventually distinguishing himself as a violin prodigy, an early film scorer, and the writer of enduring standards such as “I Don’t Want to Cry Any More,” “I Remember You,” and “Tangerine.” From early childhood he received rigorous classical instruction, and by the age of eight he was already performing with orchestras conducted by Victor Herbert and John Philip Sousa. As a teenager he embarked on tours across both America and Europe; once he settled in Los Angeles he took positions conducting theater orchestras and frequently supplied his own original scores to accompany silent films. At twenty-three he achieved his first songwriting success with “My Wonderful Dream Girl.” When the silent era ended, Schertzinger turned to scoring the initial wave of talking pictures. Among his earliest contributions was the 1929 release The Love Parade, which starred Maurice Chevalier and featured the Clifford Grey lyrics “Dream Lover” and “Paris, Stay the Same.” Throughout the 1930s he supplied additional material for productions that included the title song for One Night of Love, “I Don’t Cry Any More” for Rhythm on the River alongside Bing Crosby, “Willow Tree” for Road to Singapore, and “I Remember You” for The Fleet’s In. Schertzinger died in 1941.