Yip Harburg

Edgar Yipsel Harburg (April 8 1896 – March 4 1981), known as E. Y. Harburg or Yip Harburg, was an American lyricist who worked with many well-known composers. He is best known for writing the lyrics to The Wizard of Oz, including those of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Harburg was born Isidore Hochberg to immigrant Jew parents on the Lower East Side of New York City. His nickname was "Yipsel" often shortened to "Yip". Contrary to popular belief, "Yipsel" is not a Yiddish word, but rather the pronunciation of "YPSL", which, in turn stood for Young People's Socialist League. After he adopted the name Edgar Harburg, He was best known as Edgar "Yip" Harburg. He attended Townsend Harris High School, where he and Ira Gershwin, who met over a shared fondness for Gilbert and Sullivan, worked on the school paper and became life-long friends. They went on to attend City College (later part of the City University of New York) together. After graduating from university, Harburg spent three years... full article at wikipedia