Paul Baron

American conductor and songwriter.

Born October 1, 1910 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Died on March 22, 1985 in Italy, Rome.

[b]For the trumpet player, see [a=Paul Baron (2)].[/b]

Though he wrote other songs, he is mostly known for a song he helped edit but was given full co-writing credit for: "Rum and Coca Cola". After the song hit #1 by The Andrew Sisters, lawsuits followed. These went on until it was settled in 1948-9, allowing him to keep copyright but he, [a=Morey Amsterdam] and [a=Jeri Sullivan] had to pay $150,000 to the original lyricist and composer of the song in Trinidad.

Baron composed the music for the film "Toward the Unknown" (1956).

Baron worked as a radio announcer in Bridgeport, Connecticut before forming his band. Over the years his band featured vocalist Vera Holly and the Howard Smith Trio.