Ruth Poll (born Ruth M. Heiman,[1] June 10, 1899– March 14, 1955)[2] was an American lyricist, music publishing executive, dramatist and author, best known for songs recorded by Nat King Cole,[3] Tony Bennett[4] Ella Fitzgerald,[5] Billy Eckstine,[6] and Eddie Fisher,[2] such as "Those Things Money Can't Buy",[7] "I'd Love to Make Love to You",[8] "(I Need) A New Shade of Blues",[9] "Because of Rain" and "Bring Back the Thrill".
[18][19][20] In September 1942, an Americanized version of Ivor Novello's play, On the House, was presented in Scarsdale, New York, with the adaptation credited to Ruth Poll.
[21] The following June, the New York Daily News reported that Poll and composer Bob Emmerich were providing "extra songs" for an upcoming musical revue entitled Bright Lights, to be produced by Alexander H.
[28] By October, due in large part to the great success of her song "(I Need) A New Shade of Blues" (recorded that year by Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Ray Anthony and Mindy Carson), Poll had been admitted to ASCAP.
[33]Moreover, Poll herself, during roughly that same period (i.e. 1947 through 1949), hosted at least three interracial parties honoring African-American recording artists, two of them dedicated to singer Billy Eckstine.