Lyricist Andy Razaf was born Andrea Paul Razafkeriefo in Washington DC on December 16, 1895.
The son of a Madagascar nobleman and a nephew of Queen Ranavalona, III, of Madagascar, Razaf’s early education was in public schools while he also received private music study. He began writing songs for nightclub revues in the 1910’s and then for the United States Treasury Department for the War Bond Drive.
In the 1920’s Razaf collaborated with several composers, including Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson, JC Johnson, Paul Denniker, Thomas “Fats” Waller and Joe Garland. In the 1950’s Razaf began working as a newspaper columnist and continued in that profession until his death in 1973.
The Razaf catalog boasts some of the greatest hits from the Tin Pan Alley era, including “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, “Honeysuckle Rose”, “In the Mood”, “Stompin’ at the Savoy”, “Memories of You”, “12th Street Rag”, “Black and Blue”, “S’posin’”, “Make Believe Ballroom”, “Christopher Columbus”, “Milkman’s Matinee”, Concentratin’ On You”, “You’re Lucky to Me”, “Porter’s Love Song”, “Knock Me a Kiss”, “Dusky Stevedore”, “My Special Friend”, “That’s What I Like “Bout the South”, “Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now”, “Blue Turning Gray Over You”, “Shoutin’ in the Amen Corner”, “Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good to You?”, “On Revival Day”, “Stealing Apples”, “How Can You Face Me?”, “Massachusetts”, “My Handy Man”, “My Fate is in Your Hands”, “The Joint is Jumpin’”, “I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town”, “If It Ain’t Love”, “The Burning Bush of Israel”, “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”, “Seeds of Brotherhood,” "My Kitchen Man" and “Precious Rosary.”
Razaf also collaborated on the Broadway scores for Keep Shufflin’, Hot Chocolates and Blackbirds of 1930.
Andy Razaf died in North Hollywood, California on February 3, 1973.
