Robert Loveman, 1864-1923

loveman.jpg

Title

Robert Loveman, 1864-1923

Subject

Poet

Description

Robert Loveman was a poet and songwriter who was quite popular in his day. He composed a poem called "Rain Song." often called "April Showers," with the line "It isn't raining rain you know. It's raining violets."

Loveman attended the University of Alabama, and while there, lived with his aunt, Linka Loveman Friedman, in the Battle-Friedman House in Tuscaloosa. The beautiful gardens of the house inspired his poem.

Loveman's poem, in turn, inspired Al Jolson's song "April Showers."

A well-known Southern poet, Loveman's song "Georgia" was the official state song of Georgia before 1976 when it was replaced by "Georgia on My Mind."

William Stanley Hoole published a biographical study of Loveman called "It's Raining Violets: the life and poetry of Robert Loveman" in 1981.

Source

Tuscaloosa News Archive

Date

Circa 1900

Contributor

Betty Slowe (Description)

Type

Photograph

Identifier

2343

Coverage

Tuscaloosa (AL)

Original Format

Photograph

Physical Dimensions

3 inches by 4 inches