Grace Leboy Kahn (September 22, 1890 – May 24, 1983) was an American composer. A prolific songwriter, among her best known works are "I Wish I Had A Girl" (1908) and selections from the Jumping Jupiter musical.
Life and career
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Leboy was a precocious musician, gaining employment as a pianist by age 15,[1] and fame by age 18 with her song "I Wish I Had A Girl".[2] By age 21 she had songs on the Broadway stage[3] in Jumping Jupiter.[4] Notable performers of her day recorded her songs and compositions.[5] Lyrics for many of her songs were written by
Gus Kahn whom she married in 1916.[6] They were the parents of Donald Gustave Kahn (July 17, 1918 – April 11, 2008) and Irene Kahn (1922–1985). Grace was played by
Doris Day in I'll See You in My Dreams, a film that portrays the lives and times of Leboy and Kahn.[7]
^Stubblebine, Donald J (2002). Early Broadway sheet music : a comprehensive listing of published music from Broadway and other stage shows, 1843-1918. McFarland. p. 121.