John Turner (lyricist) explained

John Turner
Birth Name:James John Turner Phillips
Birth Place:Islington, London, England
Birth Date:7 July 1902
Death Place:Brighton, East Sussex, England
Associated Acts:Geoffrey Parsons

James John Turner Phillips (7 July 1902 – 14 April 1982) was an English lyricist who used the pen name John Turner.

Biography

He ran the Peter Maurice Music Company, whose most important lyricist was Geoffrey Parsons. The company specialized in adapting songs originally in foreign languages into the English language. He would usually assign a song to Parsons and when the latter was finished, suggest some changes. The credits for the English lyrics would then be given as "John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons".

The words of "Smile" to the music of Charlie Chaplin, was written at the Peter Maurice Music Company office on Denmark Street, London in 1954.[1]

Lyrics credited to Turner and Parsons

Lyrics credited to Turner, Parsons, and another collaborator

Notes and References

  1. News: Brown . Mick . Denmark Street's Rich Legacy . 16 January 2019 . Daily Telegraph . 27 September 2015.
  2. Book: Tyler, Don. Music of the Postwar Era. 29 May 2012. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 9780313341915. 34.