finetune artist: Hoagy Carmichael

b. Hoagland Howard Carmichael, 22 November 1899, Bloomington, Indiana, USA, d. 27 December 1981, Rancho Mirage, California, USA. An important composer, pianist and singer from the 30s through to the 50s, Carmichael grew up in a poor rural community, and was encouraged to play piano by his mother, who accompanied silent films at a local movie theatre. Largely self taught, he continued to play in spite of having ambitions towards a career in law. In 1916, the Carmichaels moved to Indianapolis where Hoagy took lessons from Reginald DuValle, a ragtime pianist. While still at high school he formed a band and continued to lead various groups during his time at Indiana University. In 1922, he met and became friendly with Bix Beiderbecke, then with the Wolverines, for whom Carmichael composed "Riverboat Shuffle" (with Dick Voynow, Mitchell Parish, Irving Mills), one of his first works. During the mid-20s he wrote occasionally, his music being published while he continued with his law studies. In 1927, he happened to hear a recording by Red Nichols of one of his tunes, "Washboard Blues" (lyric later, with Fred B. Callahan and Irving Mills). This convinced Carmichael that he should abandon law school and make a career in music. Also in 1927, he composed "Star Dust", which, with a subsequent lyric by Mitchell Parish, became his biggest seller, and one of the most recorded songs of all time.

Listen to Hoagy Carmichael at Finetune.

Two Sleepy People
Skylark
Memphis In June
Little Old Lady
Georgia On My Mind (Instrumental)