Charles Tobias

American lyricist, songwriter, radio pioneer and music publisher. His brothers, Harry and Henry, were also active in the music business. Tobias began as a singer in vaudeville. In 1923, he set up his own publishing firm and began to work in Tin Pan Alley. He contributed scores and songs to several important Broadway shows, including Earl Carroll's Vanities. His biggest success was "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" (a massive hit for the The Andrews Sisters in 1942-43). Tobias is perhaps best remembered for co-writing (with Murray Mencher and Eddie Cantor) the Merry Melodies theme song "Merrily We Roll Along". His other notable songs include "Trade Winds", "The Old Lamplighter", "Two Tickets to Georgia" and "Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer". A former President of the American Guild of Author and Composers, Tobias was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.