

Frank Loesser was born in New York City in 1910. Loesser, the son of a pianist, dropped out of college after one year and, ultimately, found himself performing in clubs with his future wife, Lynn Blankenbaker Garland. Universal Pictures signed him in 1936 and he wrote some memorable lyrics for the movies up until the war. It was after the war that Loesser truly made his mark, writing the songs for hit Broadway musicals such as Guys & Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, winning Tony Awards galore and, in 1962, a Pulitzer. He also continued writing for the movies. Among his greatest contributions was a number Loesser had written in 1944 specifically for he and his wife to perform at parties--"Baby, It's Cold Outside". When MGM wanted a full score from Loesser for the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter, he included the now classic duet. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" won Loesser an Oscar.