Louis Alter

His first hit was "Manhattan Serenade" (1929), originally an instrumental that later became the theme music of the Easy Aces radio program.There are numerous recordings of "Manhattan Serenade" and it was featured prominently in Nancy Groce's book, New York: Songs of the City (Watson-Guptill, 1999).His collaborators included Oscar Hammerstein II, Charlotte Kent, Raymond Klages, Sidney D. Mitchell and Jo Trent.Alter also composed large-scale pieces for piano and orchestra, including American Serenade and Metropolitan Nocturne.It was used for strong emotional effect in Spike Lee's four-hour film When the Levees Broke (2006) and an equally moving dramatic sketch by Billy Crystal on HBO's Comic Relief 2006.
Haverhill, MassachusettsSaint Clare's Hospital (Manhattan)pianistsongwritercomposersilent filmsNew England Conservatory of MusicvaudevilleIrène BordoniNora BayesBroadwayManhattan SerenadeEasy AcesHollywoodThe Hollywood Review of 1929Beatrice LillieHelen MorganMy Kinda LoveYou Turned the Tables on MeNina Never KnewDo You Know What It Means to Miss New OrleansNew OrleansThe Trail of the Lonesome PineOscar Hammerstein IISidney D. MitchellHarold AdamsonFire IslandAcademy AwardsSongwriters Hall of FameSaint Clare's HospitalManhattan, New York CityHurricane KatrinaSpike LeeWhen the Levees BrokeBilly CrystalComic Relief 2006Bob RussellJohn Ringling NorthRingling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey CircusThe BillboardInternet Broadway Database