Bennie Benjamin(1907-1989)

American songwriter and lyricist, best known for "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" (co-written with Sol Marcus and made popular by The Ink Spots). A graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School of Music, Benny began his career in vaudeville and as a composer for local orchestras. He was also trained as a musician on guitar and banjo. Bennie first started his career as a professional songwriter in 1938 under contract to the Chappell Music Company. Though his output was interrupted by army service in World War II, he subsequently teamed up with George David Weiss for a successful decade-long collaboration. During this time, he penned numerous hit songs, including "Surrender", " I'll Never Be Free", "Oh What It Seemed it Be", "Rumors are Flying" and "The Wheel of Fortune". In 1968, he set up his own music publishing company and in 1984 was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His songs have been performed by such illustrious vocalists as Frank Sinatra, Kay Starr, Perry Como, Doris Day and Nina Simone.