Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

January 26, 1913 in Syracuse, NY

Death

:

February 7, 1990 in Rancho Mirage, CA

Genre

:

Vocal

 

James Van Heusen was an American composer and songwriter who was born on January 26, 1913, in Syracuse, New York. His birth name was Edward Chester Babcock, but he later changed it to James Van Heusen, taking the name of a popular shirt brand. Van Heusen was the youngest of four children, and his parents were of Dutch and Irish descent. Van Heusen showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of three. He later learned to play the saxophone and clarinet and started performing in local bands. In 1932, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. Van Heusen's first big break came in 1935 when he met lyricist Johnny Burke. The two began collaborating on songs, and their first hit was "Silent Night, Lonely Night," which was recorded by Bing Crosby. Van Heusen and Burke went on to write many more songs together, including "Swinging on a Star," which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1944. Van Heusen also worked with other lyricists, including Sammy Cahn, with whom he wrote many of his most famous songs. Some of their hits include "Love and Marriage," "Come Fly with Me," and "All the Way," which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1957. Van Heusen's music was popular with many of the top singers of the day, including Frank Sinatra, who recorded over 80 of his songs. Other singers who recorded Van Heusen's music include Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin. Van Heusen was known for his ability to write catchy melodies and his skill at crafting lyrics that were both clever and heartfelt. He was also a prolific composer, writing over 800 songs during his career. In addition to his work as a songwriter, Van Heusen also composed music for films and television. He wrote the score for the 1956 film "The Joker Is Wild," which starred Sinatra, and he also wrote the theme song for the TV series "The Love Boat." Van Heusen received many awards and honors during his career, including four Academy Awards for Best Original Song. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971 and the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1995. Van Heusen died on February 6, 1990, in Rancho Mirage, California, at the age of 77. His music continues to be popular today and is considered a classic example of the American popular songbook.

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