Bob Harned bio

Bob Harned was born into a theatrical and musical family. His maternal grandfather, Albert E. Bogdon, was a magician who toured in vaudeville, in America as well as in Europe and the Orient. His mother, Sally Phipps, was an actress in films, on Broadway, and on radio. His father, Alfred Marion Harned (see separate bio), was a musician, arranger, and songwriter who, in the 1920s, also toured in vaudeville. In the 1930s, he became an arranger for big bands in New York City, and in the 1940s he moved his family to Hawaii.

Bob, though born in the Midwest, grew up in Hawaii from babyhood. Following in his family's footsteps, he frequently performed in theatrical productions in Honolulu, as well as in Philadelphia where he moved as a young adult.

After his move to New York City in the early 1980s, he began performing as a cabaret singer, with engagements at such clubs as Eighty Eights, Danny's, and Judy's. Among his numerous cabaret acts are: "I'm Old Fashioned," an autobiographical review; "Sentimental Journey: A 1940's Song Revue," "The Songs of Fred Astaire," and "If I Had A Talking Picture Of You," which showcases the songs of the early talkie moving pictures.

After his father died in 1994, Bob continued with the management of his father's company, Pink And Blue Music Publishing Company. This company was founded by his father and singer and songwriter Ernée Simpson, in order to prepare their songs into sheet music form for eventual publication. In addition to the preparation of sheet music for publication, Bob has recently begun producing CDs.

His first CD was called "Harned sings Harned," in which he sings ten (10) of his father's songs: Together, Candle Light And Wine, The Very First Day, Did I Tell You Today?, Of Course!, Love Lingers On, Sunset Glow, A Long, Long Way, Thank You, The Lore Of Alohaland.

In his second CD, called "Eat, Drink, And Be Singing," Bob sings non-Harned songs about food and drink, except for the inclusion of his father's "Candle Light And Wine," heard also in "Harned Sings Harned."

In his third CD, called "My Hawaiian Songbook," Bob sings ten favorite Tin Pan Alley Hawaiian songs that he fondly remembers enjoying while growing up in Hawaii.

In his latest CD, called "The Languages of Love," Bob sings love songs in twelve different languages.

Alfred Marion Harned bio

Alfred Marion Harned (1903-1994) was a musician, arranger and songwriter, who grew up in the Midwest. He toured in vaudeville in the 1920s. In the 1930s, he worked in New York City doing arrangements for big bands. Eventually, he settled in Hawaii but spent his last years back in New York City, where he died. He wrote his songs, both words and music, in a variety of musical styles.

One of his songs, "Candle Light And Wine," was recorded by the famous jazz singer Anita O'Day, who sang it on her 1978 record album "Skylark: Live At Sometime."

Most of Harned's other songs were written for, and performed by a nightclub singer, his friend and frequent collaborator, Ernée Simpson. Together, he and Ernée created Pink And Blue Music Publishing Company (an ASCAP member) for the purposes of publishing the large number of songs that they wrote together or separately. Their combined song catalog totals close to seventy (70) compositions.

Bob Harned (see separate bio), Alfred's son and also an accomplished cabaret singer, has continued the management of the company. In addition to the preparation of sheet music for publication, he has begun producing CDs. His first was called "Harned Sings Harned," in which he sings ten (10) of his father's songs. In his second collection, called "Eat, Drink, And Be Singing," he sings songs about food and drink, which includes "Candle Light And Wine" as one of the selections. In his third CD, called "My Hawaiian Songbook," Bob sings ten favorite Tin Pan Alley Hawaiian songs that he fondly remembers enjoying while growing up in Hawaii. In his latest CD, called "The Languages of Love," Bob sings love songs in twelve different languages.