Philip Springer with the Gold Record he received for Santa Baby.
Long-time Palisades resident and Santa Baby Composer Philip Springer was named the Best Individual Performance in Video for the 28th Annual Webby Awards. His daughter Tamar will accept his award in New York City on May 13.
Tamar was also surprised that she will be asked on stage to give the five-word acceptance speech for her father. “Not all winners get to do the acceptance speech at the ceremony, so it’s a thrill,” she said.
Springer, 97, played Moonlight Sonata for his daughter Tamar’s birthday, it was taped, and the video went viral worldwide, across all social media platforms. The poignant piano performance brought “hope heart and humanity” to millions of viewers and continues to be a moving experience for audiences worldwide.
In making the award, Nick Borenstein, general manager of the Webby Awards said, “Composer Philip Springer has set the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet. This award is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators.”
“I’m very proud of my father, he deserves this recognition for his outstanding artistry,” Tamar said and explained that there are two ways to win a Webby: one by People’s vote, the second is by judges’ decision. And the judges were unanimous that Springer should receive the award. His 98th birthday is the day before this year’s award ceremony.
Hosted by comedian Amber Ruffin (Late Night with Seth Meyers) the Webby Awards’ star-studded ceremony celebrates the best of the Internet. Fans can follow and watch show highlights including hallmark 5-Word Speeches from the night’s big winners by following The Webby Awards @thewebbyawards on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and on YouTube.
Established in 1996 during the Web’s infancy, The New York Times has hailed the Webby Awards as the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites and Mobile sites. Visit: Webbyawards.com
Composer Springer might be best known for writing the classic Christmas standard, Santa Baby, with lyricist Joan Javits.
He was born in New York City and went to grade and high school on Long Island. In 1944 he graduated from Lawrence High School, where he was voted the most musical person of his class.
During WWII, he served as a truck drive and was Mickey Rooney’s musical director in 1945 at a show in Germany. When Rooney was discharged, Springer took over his role as composer on an Army Show Don’t Touch that Dial.
Springer studied composition at Columbia College and graduated in 1950. While there he started writing songs. His first top ten song was Teasin’(lyrics by Richard Adler) in 1950 which was recorded by Connie Haines in the United States and by The Beverly Sisters in the UK.
He received a master’s degree from New York University, and his doctorate in composition at UCLA in 1973.
Springer has been credited with 540 musical pieces, including songs for numerous well-known singers, such as Frank Sinatra (How Little it Matters, How Little We Know), Judy Garland (Heartbroken), Elvis Presley (Never Ending), Frankie Laine (Moonlight Gambler) and Aretha Franklin (Her Little Heart Went to Loveland).
Springer was an early pioneer in electronic music. Springer was lyricist E.Y. “Yip” Harburg’s collaborator during the last 10 years of Yip’s life. Their collaboration produced 15 songs, one of which, Time You Old Gypsy Man was referred to by Harburg as “the best song he has ever written” (New York Times, 1/25/1980).
Philip Springer graduated from Columbia University in 1950.