Emily by Johnny Mandel (1925-) Johnny Mandel is an American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. Among the musicians he has worked with are Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Anita O’Day, Barbra Streisand, and Shirley Horn. “Emily” is a popular song composed by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. …
Harlem Nocturne by Earle Hagen (1919-2008) Earle Harry Hagen was an American composer who created music for movies and television. He is remembered for co-writing and whistling “The Fishin’ Hole”, the melody of the main theme to The Andy Griffith Show, the instrumental classic “Harlem Nocturne” used as the theme to television’s Mickey Spillane’s Mike …
Night Train by Jimmy Forrest (1920-1980) Jimmy Forrest was an African American jazz musician, who played tenor saxophone throughout his career. Forrest is famous for his first solo recording of “Night Train”. It reached #1 on the Billboard R&B chart in March 1952, and stayed at the top for seven weeks. “Hey Mrs. Jones” and …
Tickle Dew by Stefan Grossman (1945-) Stefan Grossman is an American acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and singer, music producer and educator, and co-founder of Kicking Mule records.
Fly Me To The Moon by Bart Howard (1915-2004) Bart Howard was the composer and writer of the famous jazz standard “Fly Me To The Moon”, which has been performed by singers (among others) Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Della Reese, Diana Krall, June Christy and Astrud Gilberto. It is also played frequently by …
Stormy Weather by Harold Arlen (1905-1986) Harold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, “Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor …
Airproofing by Leo Kottke (1945-) Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Kottke has overcome a partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage in his right hand …
Blue Skies by Irving Berlin (1888-1989) Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. The song was composed in 1926 as a last minute addition to the Rodgers and Hart musical, Betsy. Although the show only ran for 39 performances, “Blue Skies” …
Suicide Is Painless by Johnny Mandel (1925-) Johnny Mandel is an American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. Among the musicians he has worked with are Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Anita O’Day, Barbra Streisand, and Shirley Horn. “Emily” is a popular song composed by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by …
The Nearness of You by Howard Hoagland “Hoagy” Carmichael (1899-1981) Howard Hoagland “Hoagy” Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing “Stardust”, “Georgia On My Mind”, “The Nearness of You”, and “Heart and Soul”, four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.
