Bobby Short
For over three decades, his voice and piano at the Café Carlyle were the living, breathing archive of the Great American Songbook.
1924–2005 (age 81)·American singer and pianist·Birthday: September 15·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bobby Short didn't just perform the classics; he was their curator and consummate New York ambassador. Arriving in the city as a teenage prodigy, he honed his craft in the nightclubs of Paris and the United States, developing an intimate, sophisticated style. In 1968, he began a legendary residency at the Café Carlyle in the Carlyle Hotel, a gig that would define him for 35 years. There, in a room thick with martini-scented nostalgia, Short became synonymous with the music of Cole Porter, the Gershwins, and Noël Coward. With his rakish smile, crisp tuxedo, and a voice that mixed warmth with worldly wit, he didn't merely sing these songs—he conversed with them, treating each lyric with a mix of reverence and playful insight. He preserved a specific glamour, making a timeless art form feel urgently alive for every new audience.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bobby was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bobby Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Bobby's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2005Died at 81
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
Key Achievements
- Held a historic 35-year residency at the Café Carlyle in New York City's Carlyle Hotel.
- Recorded over 20 albums dedicated to the standards of the Great American Songbook.
- Performed at the White House for Presidents Kennedy, Reagan, and Clinton.
- Was a central figure in the revival of interest in cabaret and classic American popular music in the late 20th century.
Did You Know?
He was completely self-taught as a pianist, learning by ear as a child.
He began his professional singing career at the age of nine.
His signature song was Cole Porter's "I'm in Love Again," which he used to open his shows.
He was a noted art collector and philanthropist, particularly in support of African American cultural institutions.
“I'm not a pianist who sings, I'm a singer who plays the piano.”
