Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

1919

Death

:

April, 1993

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Bernie Wayne was an American composer and songwriter who was born on March 16, 1919, in Paterson, New Jersey. He was the son of a Russian immigrant who worked as a tailor. Wayne grew up in a musical family, and his father played the violin and his mother played the piano. He started playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Wayne attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he studied composition and piano. He also played in jazz bands and worked as a pianist in nightclubs to support himself. After graduating from Juilliard, Wayne began working as a composer and songwriter. One of Wayne's early successes was the song "Blue Velvet," which he co-wrote with Lee Morris in 1950. The song was recorded by Tony Bennett and became a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard charts. Wayne went on to write many other popular songs, including "Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)," "There She Is," and "Vanessa." In addition to his work as a songwriter, Wayne also composed music for films and television. He wrote the theme song for the television show "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" and the score for the film "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." He also wrote music for several Broadway shows, including "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and "I Had a Ball." One of Wayne's most famous compositions is the song "Blueberry Hill," which he co-wrote with Al Lewis and Larry Stock. The song was first recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1949 and has since been covered by many other artists, including Fats Domino and Elvis Presley. "Blueberry Hill" has become a classic of American popular music and is considered one of Wayne's greatest achievements. Another notable composition by Wayne is the song "There She Is," which he wrote for the Miss America pageant. The song has been used as the pageant's theme song since 1955 and has become an iconic part of the event. Wayne also wrote the song "Miss America, Here She Comes," which is played during the pageant's opening ceremony. Throughout his career, Wayne received many awards and honors for his contributions to music. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1993. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996. Bernie Wayne died on April 18, 1993, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 74. He left behind a legacy of memorable songs and compositions that continue to be enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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