Claude A. ("Bennie") Benjamin was a songwriter, often teaming with George David Weiss. He was born on November 4, 1907 in Christiansted on the island of St. Croix (United States Virgin Islands). At the age of twenty, he moved to New York City. There, he studied the banjo and guitar with Hy Smith. He then performed in vaudeville and with various orchestras, until, in 1941, he started composing songs. A songwriter is someone who writes either the lyrics or the music for songs. ... George David Weiss (born April 9, 1921) was a songwriter. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Christiansted is a town on St. ... A separate article treats the several rivers known as the St. ... City nickname: The Big Apple Location in the state of New York Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area  - Land  - Water 1,214. ... The banjo is a string instrument, derived from the banjar, a stringed instrument of Caribbean origins, sometimes called the gourd banjo. The banjar, in turn was based on the African akonting. Some etymologists derive it from a dialectal pronunciation of bandore, though recent research suggests that it may come from... The classical guitar typically has 3 nylon and 3 nickel-wound strings. ... Vaudeville is a style of theater, also known as variety, which flourished in North America from the 1880s through the 1920s. ... See also: 1940 in music, other events of 1941, 1942 in music and the list of years in music. Events January 5 - Ernesto Bonino debuts on Italian radio January 15 - Olivier Messiaens Quatuor pour la fin du temps is premiered in Stalag VIIIA in Silesia. ...

In 1968, he became a music publisher, starting his own company named for himself. He was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1984. He died in New York City on May 2, 1989. See also: 1967 in music, other events of 1968, 1969 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music Events January 4 - Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with bassist Noel Redding. ... The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... City nickname: The Big Apple Location in the state of New York Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area  - Land  - Water 1,214. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Songs written

With Sol Marcus, Ed Durham and Ed Seiler

• "Cancel the Flowers"
• "I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire"
• "Strictly Instrumental"
• "When the Lights Go On"

With George David Weiss

• "Can Anyone Explain? (No, No, No)"
• "Confess"
• "Cross Over the Bridge"
• "Echoes"
• "How Important Can It Be"
• "I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore"
• "I’ll Never Be Free"
• "I Ran All the Way Home"
• "Jet"
• "Rumors Are Flying"
• "Surrender"
• "To Think You’ve Chosen Me"
• "Wheel of Fortune"

Cross Over the Bridge is a popular song. ...

with Sol Marcus

• "Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood"
• "Fabulous Character"
• "How Can I?"
• "I Am Blessed"
• "Lonely Man"
• "Of This I’m Sure"
• "Our Love (Will See Us Through)"

Others

• "Anyone (Could Fall In Love With You)"

External link

• Songwriters' Hall of Fame page (http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=320) on Benjamin