George Michael Cohan (1878–1942) is an American entertainer and theatrical producer who also did a lot of writing and composing for the stage. He wrote more than 50 shows and published more than 300 songs, including Over There and The Yankee Doodle Boy.
Cohan started writing for vaudeville and minstrel shows while in his teens. Some of his most famous songs, such as Give My Regards to Broadway, were part of the 1904 show Little Johnny Jones, which turned out to be his first big Broadway hit.
Before World War I Cohan became known as ‘the man who owned Broadway’, due to his many-faceted efforts in American show business. Some of his shows would run simultaneously in five theatres. He is widely regarded as the father of American musical comedy.
Little Johnny Jones is about a guy whose friend is about to sail from England to New York, looking for evidence aboard ship that will clear his name for allegedly throwing the English Derby.
When acquitted and allowed to leave, he is convinced that he will do well and become a Broadway star. That is why this is being sung:
Give my regards to Broadway, remember me to Herald Square,
Tell all the gang at Forty-Second Street, that I will soon be there.
Billy Murray made one of the earliest recordings. It included short instrumental interludes from The Yankee Doodle Boy, which is another famous song from the show.
Give My Regards to Broadway was included in the 1942 film about Cohan’s life, Yankee Doodle Dandy, as well as in the 1968 musical George M!, also based on Cohan’s life.
Performing with a singer? Complete lyrics are available here:
The sound clip is computer generated using sampled sounds (AI). Transcriptions and descriptions are not AI generated.
George Michael Cohan (1878–1942) is an American entertainer and theatrical producer who also did a lot of writing and composing for the stage. He wrote more than 50 shows and published more than 300 songs, including Over There and The Yankee Doodle Boy.
Performing with a singer? Complete lyrics are available here: 
