Helmy Kresa (born in Meissen, Germany on November 7, 1904,ASCAP Biographical Dictionary (1948) died 1991, Long Island, New York) was a songwriter and the principal arranger and orchestrator for Irving Berlin.
In 1926, Kresa began working for Berlin, where he transcribed what Berlin was playing into musical manuscript form as Berlin could neither read nor write music, eventually becoming the general professional manager of the Irving Berlin Music Company.
In 1931, Kresa wrote "That's My Desire", which Frankie Laine, Louis Armstrong and a host of others recorded. Kresa's was the first published arrangement of "All of Me", written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons. He also acted as the arranger for Berlin for some stage musicals, including Call Me Madam (1952), Miss Liberty (1950) and Annie Get Your Gun (1949).
In 1953, Kresa, Sammy Gallop, and Michael Grace collaborated on the following songs:
Midnight in New YorkT rea, lelmy.MIDNIGHT IN NEW, YORK; w Sammy Gallopm Michael Grace &'Helmy Kresa ©Gabriel Records 7May53 EU315329IILibrary of CongressCopyright Office Teeny, Weeny Martini Cradled in the Arms of Love
In that same year (1953), the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, with Alfonso D'Artega as conductor, performed the musical composition co-written by Kresa, Michael Grace, and Maestro D'Artega, in the Summer Pops Concert at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, New York. The composition, titled Space Taxi Selections, was described by the Buffalo Courier-Express as "musical impressionism with a jive tempo". The newspaper also reported how the selections "brought a burst of applause from the audience".
In 1980, he had composed the instrumental music for Martin Scorsese's film Raging Bull. He died of pneumonia in Southampton Hospital, Southampton, Long Island, New York.
His son is Kent Kresa, born in 1932, the former chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman, as well as chairman of General Motors
Discography +TitleYearWordsLyricsFreddy the Rabbit:
Opera in Four MinutesM1995 KRESA, HELMY, 1899-.K978 Freddy the rabbit, opera in fourF7 minutes, [by] Helmy Kresa, [wordsby] Lanny Ross. © G. Schirmer,inc., New York; 8Nov48; EP31755.For voice and piano.I. Ross, Lanny, lyricist. II. Title.Libfry of CongreooCopynght Oice1948Lenny RossHelmy KresaOscar the Octopus: Opera in Four MinutesM1995 KRESA, HELMY, 1899-= ,K978 Oscar the octopus, opera in four08 minutes, [by] Helmy Kresa, [wordsby) Lanny Ross. © G. Schirmer,;)inc., New York; 8Nov48; EP31756.For voice and piano.I. Ross, Lanny, lyricist. II. Title.Litrar> of Congr-s'Ccpvnght Office1948Lenny RossHelmy KresaMy O-HI-O HeavenKresa, Helmy.My 0;HI-, HEAVEN; w, m & © Helmy Kresa& Al Lewis 5Apr51 EU234573Library of CongressCopyright Office1951Helmy Kresa & Al Lewis Helmy Kresa & Al LewisMiracle of FatimaKresa, Helmy.MIRACLE OF.FATIMA; w Michael Gracem Helmy'Kresa © Sanson-Mus;c Co.18Nov52 EU294479,Library of CongressCopyright Office1952Michael GraceHelmy KresaMidnight in New YorkT rea, lelmy.MIDNIGHT IN NEW, YORK; w Sammy Gallopm Michael Grace &'Helmy Kresa ©Gabriel Records 7May53 EU315329IILibrary of CongressCopyright Office1953Sammy GallopHemly Kresa & Michael GraceLove Waltz- Kresa,. Helmy.LOVE WALTZ; w & m Michael P. Gracem .Helmy Kresa ©Gabriel Records8Jun53 EU324234Library of CongressCopyright Officer1953Michael GraceHelmy Kresa & Michael GraceI Will Follow Your StarJtresa, Helmy.I'LL FOLLOW YOUR STAR; w' Michgel P.Grace m Helmy Kresa © Michael MusicCo., inc, 1Feb52 EU263187r1LLibrary of CongressCopyright Office1952Michael GraceHelmy KresaFourth Man ThemeKnesa,_ Helmy.FOURTH MAN THEME; m Michael P. Grace& Helmy Kresa © Gabriel Records8Jun53 EU324235RILibrary of CongressCopyright Office1953Helmy Kresa & Michael GraceTeeny, Weeny Martini1953Sammy GallopHelmy Kresa & Michael GraceCradled in the Arms of Love1953Sammy GallopHelmy Kresa & Michael Grace
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