Hans May (Johann Mayer)
1886 - 1959
Austrian/British
Summary
Biography
Hans May (Johann Mayer) was born in Vienna in 1886. After his musical education in Vienna he became a composer and conductor for operetta and cabaret. In 1919 he went to Berlin to continue to compose for cabaret and silent movies. From 1929 on he was one of the most highly regarded film music composers for talking movies. His songs for the star tenor Joseph Schmidt, in particular, including Heut ist der schönste Tag in meinem Leben, brought great international success.
He was forced to leave Germany in 1933, tried to carry on in Vienna and Amsterdam but finally went to London. After several years without financial security, he was able to succeed again with music for movies, TV, and a successful musical. In 1947 he became a British citizen. Hans May died in 1959 during a recuperative holiday in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in France.