E. Y. Harburg

Edgar Yipsel Harburg, born Isidore Hochberg and known as Yip Harburg or E.Y. Harburg, was born in New York City in 1896 into a family of Russian Orthodox Jews. In high school, Harburg became friends with fellow lyricist Ira Gershwin. Following his graduation from City College, Harburg became co-owner of Consolidated Electrical Appliance Company. After his company went bankrupt in the crash of 1929, Harburg started writing song lyrics, attaining widespread success with his song “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” Harburg later wrote lyrics for songs featured in The Wizard of Oz, including, most notably, the Oscar-winning “Over the Rainbow.” Harburg continued to write music for Hollywood and Broadway after his Oz success. He died of a heart attack in 1981.