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Robert B. Sour (October 31, 1905 – March 6, 1985) Robert B. Sour obituary, The New York Times, March 8, 1985. "Robert Sour" at Library of Congress. was an American lyricist and composer, and the president of Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI).
In partnership with Una Mae Carlisle (1915–1956), he also composed lyrics for the song "Walkin' by the River", which became a radio hit as sung by Syliva Froos (1927–2004) in 1941. Ella Fitzgerald recorded "Walkin' by the River" for Decca Records, with Leroy Kirkland directing the orchestra. Benny Carter also recorded "Walkin", with Carlisle on vocals. Sour and Carlisle also partnered to write and compose, Coffee and Cakes, recorded twice in 1941 on Bluebird Records. Carlisle was the vocalist for the first recording. Frances Wayne was the vocalist with Sam Donahue performing on the second recording.
Sour composed music and lyrics for both film and theater; along with Henry Katzman, he wrote the soundtrack sections "Twitterpated" and "Thumper's Song" for the Walt Disney Productions animated feature Bambi (1942).
In 1940, Sour worked for Broadcast Music as its lyrics editor, and by 1966 had risen through company ranks to become BMI's president. Two years later he had become the company's vice chairman and was instrumental in establishing BMI's musical theater workshop He retired in 1970.
Sour was one of the jurors in the murder trial of Eddie Lee Mays, who in 1963 became the last man executed in New York.
Sour died in New York City on March 6, 1985, at the age of 79.
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