Freed, Arthur

Arthur Freed Lyricist and film producer Charleston, South Carolina, September 9, 1894; Los Angeles, Calif., April 12, 1973. Freed began his career as a music plugger in Chicago, where he met Minnie Marx, who invited him to join her four sons in their vaudeville act as a vocalist. He then teamed with Gus Edwards, and began writing lyrics with various composers. His first hit was 1923’s “I Cried for You” with music by bandleaders Abe Lyman and Gus Arnheim, both of whom featured it with their…