Ben Oakland was a prolific American composer whose career spanned from the 1920s through the 1940s, contributing memorable melodies to Broadway, Hollywood, and the Ziegfeld Follies. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1907, Oakland collaborated with some of the era's finest lyricists, including Oscar Hammerstein II on the standard "I'll Take Romance." His partnership with Jack Murray yielded another lasting standard, "If I Love Again," while his most widely recognized composition, "Java Jive," became a pop culture fixture. Oakland's works were championed by leading vocalists of the era including Barbra Streisand, Anita O'Day, and June Christy. He died in Hollywood, California, in 1979.
