Reuben "Rube" Bloom, born April 24, 1902, in New York City, was a composer, pianist, and arranger whose songs became staples of the Great American Songbook. He began his career in the 1920s as a novelty piano specialist, producing over thirty piano solos in that decade alone, while also performing and recording alongside Bix Beiderbecke, Joe Venuti, Tommy Dorsey, and Fats Waller. Bloom gradually shifted his focus to popular songwriting, partnering with leading lyricists to produce a string of durable standards. His collaboration with Johnny Mercer yielded Day In Day Out, Fools Rush In, and Here's to My Lady. Fools Rush In, written in 1940 and featured on AllSolos, became one of the most widely recorded songs of its era. With Ted Koehler, Bloom wrote Don't Worry 'Bout Me, Truckin', and Good for Nothin' Joe, several of which were introduced at the Cotton Club. His partnership with Harry Ruby produced Give Me the Simple Life, while Maybe You'll Be There, written with Sammy Gallop, became a hit in the late 1940s. Bloom also contributed to Broadway revues and worked as a bandleader and recording artist. He died on March 30, 1976, in New York City, leaving a catalog of melodically rich songs that remain in active circulation among jazz and popular musicians.
