THE NORTON / GROVE DICTIONARY OF WOMEN COMPOSERS<BR>
1ST AMERICAN EDITION<BR> 
EDITED BY J. A. SADIE AND R. SAMUEL<BR>
NEW YORK: W. W. NORTON, 1995<BR> 
ENTRY BY ROBERT FINN<BR>
<P>
-----------------------------
<P>

<B>Edwards</B> [nee Gerlich], <B>Clara</B> (b Mankato, MN, 18 March 1887; d New York, 17 Jan 1974). 
American composer, singer and pianist. She studied singing in Vienna and, returning to the USA in 1914, 
pursued an active career as a singer and pianist. A member of ASCAP from 1925, 
she wrote more than 50 songs that successfully blended the styles of art song and the sentimental parlour ballad; 
<I>With the Wind and the Rain in her Hair</I> (published in 1930, and a hit in 1940), 
<I>By the Bend of the River</I> and <I>When Jesus Walked on Galilee</I> were particularly popular. 
Some of her music was incorporated into the repertory of well-known artists: 
Ezio Pinza, for example, sang <I>Into the Night</I> on the 'Telephone Hour' radio programme
several times. Edwards also wrote music for children's plays (e.g. <I>Alice in Wonderland</I>) 
and animated cartoons. 
<P>
ROBERT FINN