William Raskin

William Raskin, sometimes given as Willie Raskin, (November 3, 1896 – April 8, 1942) was an American songwriter and lyricist. After beginning his career as a journalist in New York, he became first a clerk and then a songwriter in Tin Pan Alley. He also wrote material for vaudeville. In the late 1920s he relocated to California at the time of the beginning of sound films; becoming one of the first songwriters to work in Hollywood in that newly created medium. Recordings of his work are catalogued in the Discography of American Historical Recordings by the University of California, Santa Barbara, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Packard Humanities Institute. Life and career William Raskin was born in New York City on November 3, 1896. He was educated at New York Public School 83 in Morris Park, Bronx, and began his career writing for the New York Morning Telegraph. He then worked as a clerk in various Tin Pan Alley music publishing firms before transitioning into a career as songwriter. In 1921 he co-authored the song “I Found a Rose in the Devil’s Garden” with Fred Fisher. It was made into a popular piano roll by pianist and composer Pete Wendling who also arranged