"Sunny Side of the Street" Composer?

[Teasing the Korean]

The standard "Sunny Side of the Street" is credited to Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields.  However, there may be evidence that Fats Waller wrote the music and sold the rights for immediate cash.  

Has anyone here looked into this?

[medjuck]

I heard that about 60 years ago but not sure it was more than a rumour.   Sounds like Waller, but McHugh and Fields were no slouches either. 

[EKE BBB]

Within jazz bibliography, this story first came up in Frank Jackson’s “An Autobiography Of Black Jazz”, which is quoted extensively in Laurie Wright’s “Fats On Fact”, page 420:

”New melodies bubbled out of Fats Waller creative brain like water spouting out of the head of a whale. He wrote songs with such ease that he never fully realised the value of his musical contributions. He wrote ‘I can’t give you anything but love, baby’ and ‘On the sunny side of the street’ without ever getting any royalties or credits. In the summer of 1929 he sold the rights to 21 of his songs, including the ones from the musical hit, ‘Hot Chocolates’, to Irving Mills for $500 (…)”

No mention, though, in the other two Fats Waller bios I own (Maurice Waller’s and Alyn Shipton’s). I do not have the Kirkeby. 

Edited November 19, 2023 by EKE BBB

[EKE BBB]

But it seems it was “walla lore” at the time. This is just an example:

“That “harmful little armful” - Fats Waller—who weighs a mere 200 pounds or so and packs even more weight than that into his amazing swing style will be the attraction of attractions at Sunset Casino tonight, starting at eight o’clock. Ol’ Fatsy Watsy promises his hosts of idols here he’ll really “dig some jive”. Heard regularly over Station WATL, Fats Waller has been on the air to thrill local fans continuously for nearly two years. Waller is one of the most successful song writers and arrangers in the business. He authored “Honeysuckle Rose”, “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, “Sunny Side of the Street”, and a host of others, including his signature melody, “Spreadin’ Rhythm Around”. When “trucking” was the vogue, Fats Waller’s version of the song hit by the same name was a best seller. Its popularity spread like a forest blaze. You’ll miss a rare treat indeed if you fail to hear Ol’ Fatsy Watsy “go to town”!”

“Fats Waller ‘Digs His Jive’ Tonite.” Atlanta Daily World (Atlanta, Georgia), April 4, 1940.

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by EKE BBB

[Ken Dryden]

I have the Kirkeby bio, I seem to recall reading that claim in it, but it has been awhile. I will check it when I have time.