Ruth Poll (born Ruth M. Heiman,"New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WWZ-3SK : 11 February 2018), Ruth Heiman, 10 Jun 1899; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 22032 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,953,534. June 10, 1899 – March 14, 1955)"Ruth Poll Dies". The Cash Box. March 26, 1955. p. 17. was an American lyricist, music publishing executive, dramatist and author, best known for songs recorded by Nat King Cole,Friedwald, Will (2020). Straighten Up and Fly Right : The Life and Music of Nat King Cole. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 136. . Tony BennettMatwychuk, Paul (July 4–July 10, 2002). "New Sounds". Vue Weekly. p. 33. Ella Fitzgerald,Rowe, Billy (June 9, 1951). "Billy Rowe's Notebook". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 17. Billy Eckstine,International News Service (October 11, 1949). "Took a Chance, Made Good as Song Publisher". The Journal News. p. 8. and Eddie Fisher, such as "Those Things Money Can't Buy","'Round the Wax Circle". The Cash Box. July 30, 1949. p. 11. "I'd Love to Make Love to You",DuBoff, Rob (1997). 200 of the Best Songs from Jazz of the '50s. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 90. . "(I Need) A New Shade of Blues","'Round the Wax Circle". The Cash Box. October 15, 1949. p. 9. "Because of Rain" and "Bring Back the Thrill".Lax, Roger; Smith, Frederick (1989). The Great Song Thesaurus. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 195. .Lonergan, David F. (2005). Hit Records, 1950–1975. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. pp. 16, 25. .
Early life and career A lifelong Manhattanite (and 1st-generation German-American), Poll was the first of two children born to Dr. Henry Heiman and Bertha Tannenbaum."United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M53V-Q4B : accessed 24 February 2023), Ruth Heiman in household of Henry Heiman, Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 493, sheet 7B, family 124, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1020; FHL microfilm 1,375,033."United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:MJY1-7Q3 : Tue Feb 07 22:06:22 UTC 2023), Entry for Henry Heiman and Ruth Heiman, 1920."United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQTN-MYB : 28 July 2019), Ruth Poll in household of Daniel Poll, Assembly District 15, Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31-1341, sheet 15B, line 60, family 11, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2655.
In 1939, Poll and artist Gar Gilbert collaborated on a children's book, The American Holiday Parade, published by New York's Elektra Press, providing a series of brief, brightly illustrated verses on every nationally observed holiday of note."New Book Shelf (Greenwood City and County Public Library): Children's Books". The Greenwood Index-Journal. April 30, 1941. p. 2.
Poll's first publicized foray into songwriting was her 1941 collaboration with composer Henry Sylvern, "I'm a Military Man Now," which was unveiled, at Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau's request, on the premiere broadcast of a revamped version of the U.S. Treasury's wartime radio series, The Treasury Hour—Millions for Defense."News and Views of Radio: New Program". The Sacramento Bee. September 30, 1941. p. 18."From the Production Centres: New York". Variety. October 1, 1941. p. 47.Associated Press (June 26, 1941). "Talent Lined Up for Stamp, Bond Program". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 18.
In September 1942, an Americanized version of Ivor Novello's play, On the House, was presented in Scarsdale, New York, with the adaptation credited to Ruth Poll.Odec. (September 23, 1942). "Legitimate: Strawhat Reviews". Variety. p. 50. The following June, the New York Daily News reported that Poll and composer Bob Emmerich were providing "extra songs" for an upcoming musical revue entitled Bright Lights, to be produced by Alexander H. Cohen."Aug. Review to Combine Old and New". New York Daily News. June 22, 1943. p. 35. In the end, however, Cohen passed on their contribution, hiring the team of Jerry Livingston and Mack David instead."Court To Decide Whether Cohen Arbitrates or Not". The Billboard. September 4, 1943. p. 24.
Aside from Emmerich, it appears that Poll's most frequent collaborators were Claude Demetrius and Al Goodhart.Library of Congress "Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series". U.S. Copyright Office. p. 50. Others include Mercer Ellington, Alec Wilder,"'Round the Wax Circle: New York".The Cash Box. December 15, 1951. p. 7. Charles Brown,"1946-1954 Copyright Registration Cards (A-N)". U.S. Copyright Office. Pete Rugolo and Larry Stock."Search results for 'Poll, Ruth'". U.S. Copyright Office.
In February 1949, Billboard reported that Poll had formed Maypole Music."Music as Written: New York". The Billboard. February 5, 1949. By October, due in large part to the great success of her song "(I Need) A New Shade of Blues" (recorded that year by Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Ray Anthony and Mindy Carson), Poll had been admitted to ASCAP."'Round the Wax Circle". The Billboard. October 8, 1949. p. 45.
Personal life and death Ruth Poll was married to Dr. Daniel Poll from September 8, 1920, until his death on December 24, 1952."New York Happenings". The American Israelite. September 16, 1920. p. P2."Obituary: Dr. Daniel Poll". New York Daily News. December 25, 1952. p. 31. They had two daughters, both of whom predeceased their parents.
In her 1972 book, Nat King Cole, an Intimate Biography, Cole's widow Maria Cole recalls the wedding gift received from Poll on Easter Sunday, March 1948:
Moreover, Poll herself, during roughly that same period (i.e. 1947 through 1949), hosted at least three interracial parties honoring African-American recording artists, two of them dedicated to singer Billy Eckstine. The latter of those two, held in May 1949, numbered among its musical "Who's Who" of guests Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, and disc jockey Fred Robbins,"In the Spotlight". The Pittsburgh Courier. May 21, 1949. p. 18."'Round the Wax Circle". The Cash Box. May 21, 1949. p. 9. while the former reportedly featured Cole playing piano behind both Eckstine and Mel Torme. By contrast, an earlier such Poll-sponsored event, honoring singer Nellie Lutcher in November 1947, appears to have been considerably less successful, receiving a scant one sentence of press coverage, informing readers that the putative guest of honor had failed to attend.Rowe, Billy (November 22, 1947). "Note Book". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 16.
She and her husband had had two daughters. On Monday afternoon, March 14, 1955, Poll, at age 55 died following a heart attack.
Songs 1941: "Weary Little Fellow" (written with Henry Sylvern) "I'm a Military Man Now" (written with Henry Sylvern)
1947: "I Owe This Dream to You" (Mercer Ellington) "Ain't Nobody's Business What I Do" (written with Claude Demetrius) "Two Poor Fools" (with Claude Demetrius) "I Don't Wanna Love You" (written with Demetrius and Johnny Farrow) "Those Things Money Can't Buy" (written with Al Goodhart) "I'd Love to Make Love to You" (written with Bob Emmerich)
1948: "If and When" (written with Bob Emmerich) "I Found a New Love Song" (written with Bob Emmerich) "Another November" (written with Johnny Farrow) "I Dreamed This Waltz" (written with Enzo Vollero) "If I Could Do What I'd Like to Do" (written with Claude Demetrius) "Let's Pretend" (written with Claude Demetrius) "I'm Looking for a Bluebird" (written with Bob Emmerich) "If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow" (written with Bob Emmerich) "The Look In Your Eyes" (written with Bob Emmerich) "There's a Little White Gate" (written with Bob Emmerich) "Twenty-Four Hours a Day" (written with Bob Emmerich) "Someone Stole My Heart Away" (written with Carroll W. Lucas) "I'm Lookin' for Love" (written with Charles Brown)
1949: "I Love You, I Told You So" (written with Doris B. Halpern) "I'm Just Thinking Out Loud" (written with Bob Emmerich) "What Have You Got If You Haven't Got Love" (written with Alvin S. Kaufman and Bob Emmerich)"1946-1954 Copyright Registration Cards (A-N)". United States Copyright Office.
1950: "Bring Back the Thrill" (written with Pete Rugolo) "What Have You Got If You Haven't Got Love" (written with David Saxon)"1946-1954 Copyright Registration Cards (O-Z)". United States Copyright Office. "The World Belongs to Me" (written with David Saxon)
1951: "Ain't Had No Lovin'" (written with Robert Marcus) "Hi-Ho for Holiday Land" (written with Bob Emmerich) "How Could You Be So Dumb, My Little Darlin'" (with Larry Stock) "What Have You Got If You Haven't Got Love" (written with Russ Black) "You Learned a Lot About Love" (written with Robert Marcus) "You Weren't There" (written with Alec Wilder)
1954: "Love, Tears and Kisses" (written with Al Goodhart and Alex Alstone) "Slow Down, Baby, Slow Down" (written with Sylvia Davis and Al Goodhart)
Notable performers of her songs Except where otherwise indicated, credits derived from Discogs."Ruth Poll". Discogs. "Because of Rain" (Luis Alcaraz,"Because of Rain ('Por Causa de la Lluvia')". Internet Archive. Nat King Cole,"Disk of the Week: Because of Rain / Song of Delilah - Nat King Cole". The Cash Box. May 5, 1951. p. 6. Ella Fitzgerald, Earl Grant, Clyde McCoy) "Bring Back the Thrill" (Don Cherry,"'Bring Back the Thrill' by Don Cherry; Pete Rugolo; Ruth Poll; Dave Terry". Internet Archive. Tony Fontane,"'Bring Back the Thrill' Due for Big Push". The Cash Box. December 30, 1950. p. 33. Eddie Fisher, Billy Eckstine, Doris Day, Mary Mayo)"Taylor Joins Maypole". The Cash Box. December 16, 1950. p. 19. "Corner to Corner" (Sarah Vaughan)"'Round the Wax Circle". The Cash Box. March 29, 1952. p. 7. "I Owe This Dream to You" (Billy Daniels, with Mercer Ellington)"The Billboard Music Popularity Charts; Advance Record Releases: Hot Jazz". The Billboard. September 20, 1947. p. 141. "I'd Love to Make Love to You" (Johnny Moore's Three Blazers,"I LOVE TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU". Internet Archive. Erskine Hawkins"'I'd Love to Make Love to You' by Erskine Hawkins His Orchestra". Internet Archive. Dakota Staton with George Shearing) "If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow" (Tony Bennett, Dayna Kurtz, Nat King Cole) "It Was So Good While It Lasted" (Helen Forrest,"Record Album: Freddy Martin Orchestra Does Fine Job". Independent Press Telegram. p. 6. Nat King Cole) "Love, Tears and Kisses" (June Valli,"Love, Tears and Kisses". Internet Archive. David Whitfield with Mantovani)"Love, Tears And Kisses - David Whitfield & Annunzio Mantovani And His Orchestra". Internet Archive. "A New Shade of Blues" (Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Anthony, Mindy Carson, Johnny Moore's Three Blazers,"Maypole Music Extend Thanks to the Disc Jockies, Juke Box Operators, Distributors and Trade Press for their cooperation and support of our No. One Song: 'A New Shade of Blues'". The Cash Box. June 4, 1949. p. 10. Cynthia Crane)"Search results for 'New Shade of Blues A'". ASCAP Repertory Search.