Herbert Fields, Dorothy's big brother, was born in 1897. He started his writing career doing the librettos for a string of Rodgers and Hart musicals during the 1920s, shows such as Dearest Enemy, The Girl Friend, and A Connecticut Yankee.

Herbert Kretzmer was born in South Africa, where he began a career in journalism writing the commentary for a weekly cinema newsreel. He came to live in London in 1954, and pursued twin careers as newspaperman and songwriter.