Edward Eliscu

US from Romanian origins lyricist, playwright, producer and actor
☆ April 2, 1902, New York City, New York, USA
✞ June 18, 1998, Newtown, Connecticut, USA
His parents, Frank and Sophia Eliscu were born in România and emigrated to US
Edward began performing in Broadway plays
In 1929, Eliscu produced his first Broadway score with composer Vincent Youmans and co-lyricist Billy Rose entitled Great Day!
In 1930, Eliscu began contributing songs to film scores as well as writing film screenplays
While he contributed songs to over 40 film scores, his most notable was Flying Down to Rio with Fred Astaire
The song “Carioca” not only launched the partnership of Astaire and Ginger Rogers, but also earned Eliscu an Academy Award nomination in 1935 for Best Song

Inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 1975.