Sammy Fain was a self-taught pianist and composer who created a prolific catalog spanning Broadway, Hollywood, and popular song from the mid-1920s through the 1980s. Born Samuel Feinberg in New York City in 1902, Fain formed a 17-year partnership with lyricist Irving Kahal that produced numerous hits. His compositions include jazz standards "I'll Be Seeing You" and "That Old Feeling," both written in 1938 and widely covered across decades. Fain wrote more than 30 film scores, earning two Academy Awards for Best Original Song: "Secret Love" from Calamity Jane in 1953 and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" in 1955. His melodies balanced sophisticated harmonic writing with popular appeal. He died in Los Angeles in 1989.
