Editing Andy Razaf (section)

==Biography==
Razaf was born in 1895 in [[Washington, D.C.]], United States.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> His birth name was Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo. He was the son of Henri Razafinkarefo, nephew of Queen [[Ranavalona III]] of the [[Merina Kingdom|Imerina]] kingdom in Madagascar, and Jennie Razafinkarefo (née Waller), daughter of [[John L. Waller]], the first African American consul to [[Merina Kingdom|Imerina]].<ref name="Past">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/razaf-andy-1895-1973/|title=Andy Razaf (1895-1973)|website=Blackpast.org|first=Olga|last=Bourlin|date=November 29, 2015|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> The [[Second Madagascar expedition|French invasion of Madagascar]] (1894-95) left Henri dead, and forced pregnant 15-year-old Jennie to escape to the U.S..<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JUjFNpgoZD0C&dq=madagascar+Andy+razaf&pg=PA71|title=Easy to Remember: The Great American Songwriters and Their Songs|first=William|last=Zinsser|page=71/2|date=October 6, 2006|publisher=David R. Godine Publisher|isbn=9781567923254|access-date=October 6, 2021|via=Google Books}}</ref> Razaf was raised in [[Harlem]], [[Manhattan]].

At age 16, Razaf quit school and took a job as an elevator operator in a [[Tin Pan Alley]] office building. A year later he penned his first song text, embarking on his career as a lyricist. During this time he spent many nights in the [[Greyhound Lines]] bus station in [[Times Square]], and picked up his mail at the [[Embassy Five Theatre|Gaiety Theatre office building]], which was considered the black Tin Pan Alley.<ref name="broadway">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rqi3d1925IcC&q=City+Investing+Five+Broadway+Theatres&pg=PA180|title=Broadway: An Encyclopedia|author=Ken Bloom|publisher=Routledge|edition=Second|date=November 11, 2003|isbn=0-415-93704-3}}</ref>

Some of Razaf's early poems were published in 1917–18 in the [[Hubert Harrison]]-edited ''Voice'', the first newspaper of the "[[Harlem Renaissance|New Negro Movement]]". Razaf collaborated with composers [[Eubie Blake]], [[Don Redman]], [[James P. Johnson]], [[Harry Brooks (composer)|Harry Brooks]], and [[Fats Waller]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Among the best-known Razaf-Waller collaborations are "[[Ain't Misbehavin' (song)|Ain't Misbehavin']]", "[[Honeysuckle Rose (song)|Honeysuckle Rose]]", "The Joint Is Jumpin'", "Willow Tree", "[[Keepin' Out of Mischief Now]]" and "[[(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue]]".<ref name="LarkinGE"/> His music was played by other [[Tin Pan Alley]] musicians, as well as [[Benny Goodman]], [[Eubie Blake]], [[Cab Calloway]] and many others. He was a contributor and editor of the [[Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League]]'s ''[[Negro World]]'' newspaper.<ref name="Past"/>

Razaf wrote a number of raunchy "character" blues-type songs for many 1920s female blues singers. He also made a number of records as a vocalist (both as solo and as vocalist for jazz groups, including a handful by James P. Johnson and [[Fletcher Henderson]]).

He was married to [[Jean Blackwell Hutson]] from 1939 to 1947.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Dinitia|date=1998-02-07|title=Jean Hutson, Schomburg Chief, Dies at 83 (Published 1998)|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/07/arts/jean-hutson-schomburg-chief-dies-at-83.html|access-date=2021-02-09|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 1972, Razaf was recognized by his Tin Pan Alley peers when he was inducted in the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]].<ref name="SHOF">{{cite web|url=http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=305|title=Songwriters Hall of Fame website|website=Songwritershalloffame.org|access-date=5 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402040910/http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=305|archive-date=April 2, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Death===
Razaf died in [[North Hollywood, California]] in February 1973 from [[renal failure]], aged 77.<ref name="Past"/>