J. FRED COOTS - INSCRIBED AUTOGRAPH MUSICAL QUOTATION SIGNED - HFSID 299866

FRED J. COOTS
Rare! Signature and autograph musical quotation for "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" on a 1979 Christmas First Day Cover, postmarked North Pole, Alaska!
Inscribed Autograph Musical Quotation signed: "Regards to Billy Lester from/J.Fred Coots (over)" and on verso "Santa Claus is Coming to Town 1934/[musical quotation]/Santa Claus is Coming to Town", 6½x3¾. First Day Cover for Christmas of 1979, postmarked North Pole, Alaska, 1979 October 18, 15-cent U.S. stamp affixed, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. In 1934, Coots (1897-1985, born in New York City) wrote the music and Haven Gillespie wrote the lyrics to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" for Eddie Cantor to sing on his radio show. The song was an instant success, selling four million copies of sheet music and later inspiring an animated special featuring the voice of Fred Astaire. In 1998, Coots' holiday classic was ranked second on ASCAP's "Top 25 Holiday Season Songs", and the tune has been featured in numerous films. The prolific Coots wrote over 700 other songs during his career, including music for Broadway shows, Cotton Club revues (with lyricist Benny Davis) and Hollywood films. He had a hit in 1938 with "You Go to My Head" (also with Gillespie). The songwriter and vaudeville and nightclub performer was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. Lightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.