HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Hoagy Carmichael

Birth of Jazz: Hoagy Carmichael

Hoagy Carmichael

Born on 22 November 1899 in Bloomington, Indiana, composer and pianist, Hoagy Carmichael, was a law student at Indiana University when in 1922 Bix Beiderbecke performed at a fraternity dance. Their meeting and relationship between there and Chicago provided much the thrust of Carmichael's musical vocation in the early twenties while attending law school.

Carmichael was a student when he made his first recordings with Hitch's Happy Harmonists, replacing Curtis Hitch on piano in Richmond, Indiana, for Gennett Records on May 19, 1925: 'Boneyard Shuffle' and 'Washboard Blues'. He was yet a student when he laid a couple unissued tracks with his Collegians in February of 1926.

'Bone Yard Shuffle' Hoagy Carmichael (piano) w Hitch's Happy Harmonists

Recorded 19 May 1925 in Richmond IN Matrix 12245 Gennett 3066-B

Cornet: Fred Rollison Trombone: Jerry Bump Clarinet: Harry 'Mousey' Wright

C melody sax: Myron 'Rookie' Neal Bass sax: Dewey Neal

Banjo: Arnold Habbe or Maurice Mays

Bass brass: Haskell Simpson Drums: Earl 'Buddy' MacDowell

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

'Washboard Blues' Hoagy Carmichael (piano) w Hitch's Happy Harmonists

Recorded 19 May 1925 in Richmond IN Matrix 12246 Gennett 3066-A

Cornet: Fred Rollison Trombone: Jerry Bump Clarinet: Harry 'Mousey' Wright

C melody sax: Myron 'Rookie' Neal Bass sax: Dewey Neal

Banjo: Arnold Habbe or Maurice Mays

Bass brass: Haskell Simpson Drums: Earl 'Buddy' MacDowell

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

Carmichael received his law degree by the time he issued 'One Night in Havana' and the waltz, 'One Last Kiss', on 28 October 1927 with his Pals. He first recorded the song for which he is probably best known, 'Star Dust', on 31 October 1927, that his best-selling title overall.

'Star Dust' Original instrumental Hoagy Carmichael (cornet / piano) & His Pals

Recorded 31 Oct 1927 in Richmond IN Gennett 6311

Trumpet: Byron Smart Trombone: Oscar Rossberg

Alto sax: Dick Kent / Gene Woods Tenor sax: Maurice Bennett

Guitar: Don Kimmell Drums: Cliff Williams

Music: Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics: Mitchell Parish

Carmichael performed at piano as a member of Emil Seidel's orchestra on 11 November 1927 toward such as 'The Best Things In life Are Free' and 'The Hours I Spent With You' sung by Cliff Williams. He then joined Beiderbecke as a member of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra for the recording of 'Washboard Blues' in Chicago on November 18, 1927. Proving a hep talent straight out of the gate, he would accompany numerous huge names during his career. Among the more important musicians who used Carmichael's compositions during his early period were Louis Armstrong, Irving Mills (recording with him 1929-30) and Johnny Mercer. He and Armstrong laid up 'St. Louis Blues' and 'Rockin' Chair' in NYC on December 13, 1929. His initial recording of 'Georgia on my Mind' in September of 1930 was with his all-star orchestra including Beiderbecke.

'Georgia On My Mind' Original version Hoagy Carmichael (vocal) & His Orchestra

Recorded 15 Sep 1930 in NYC Victor 23013

Cornet: Bix Beiderbecke Trumpet: Ray Lodwig

Trombone: Jack Teagarden / Boyce Cullen

Reeds: Jimmy Dorsey/ Arnold Brilhart / Min Leibrook Violin: Joe Venuti

Piano: Irving Brodsky Guitar: Eddie Lang Drums: Gene Krupa

Music: Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics: Stuart Gorrell

Bennie Moten issued Carmichael's 'New Orleans' in 1932. Carmichael made it through the Depression as a songwriter for Southern Music Company until royalties from arrangements and compositions started adding up, enabling him to live comfortably enough to leave Southern in 1935. Howsoever, it was also 1935 that Paramount decided to hire him at $1000 a week to compose for films. Now to live not only comfortably, but posh in the former mansion of chewing gum heir, William Wrigley Jr., the first film of fourteen total in which Carmichael appeared was 'Topper' in 1937.

'Old Man Moon' Hoagy Carmichael w Constance Bennett & Cary Grant

From the film: 'Topper' released 16 July 1937

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

In 1939 Carmichael's tune, 'Bread and Gravy', saw issue by Ethel Waters with the Ed Mallory Orchestra on Bluebird 10415. He starred with Dorothy Dandridge in the film short, 'Lazy Bones', in 1941. Dancing alongside Dandridge through an impressive balancing act in the role of a waiter was Peter Ray.

'Lazy Bones' Hoagy Carmichael in the film short 'Lazy Bones' in 1941

Dancing: Dorothy Dandridge / Peter Ray

Music: Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics: Johnny Mercer

During World War II Carmichael performed for the USO. It was yet wartime when Carmichael appeared with Lauren Bacall in the film, 'To Have And Have Not', in 1944. From 1944 to 1948 he worked three radio programs: 'Tonight at Hoagy's', 'Something New' and 'The Hoagy Carmichael Show'. Carmichael had first recorded 'Hong Kong Blues' in 1938 when Hong Kong was a British colony [Wikipedia]. Of numerous versions that followed, he released one on ARA 123 which reached Billboard's #6 spot in August 1945, the same month that the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August), Japan. Japan had occupied Hong Kong during WW II from 1941 (Battle of Hong Kong) to surrender, at which time it returned to the British [Encyclopedia]. It was occupied by Japan when Carmichael recorded the charting ARA issue in April of 1945 toward release in May.

'Hong Kong Blues' Hoagy Carmichael

Recorded 11 May 1942 in Los Angeles Issued on Decca 18395 in 1944

Hong Kong occupied by Japan

Preceding 1945 version on ARA 123 which charts at #6

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

'Am I Blue' Hoagy Carmichael w Lauren Bacall (age 19)

From the film 'To Have And Have Not' Released 11 Oct 1944

Composition: Harry Akst / Grant Clarke 1929

In May 1945 Carmichael recorded 'Ole Buttermilk Sky' for the film 'Canyon Passage' which release on ARA 155 climbed to #2 on Billboard in October. Carmichael's 'Rogue River Valley' saw issue by Elton Britt in July 1946. His recording of 'Huggin' and Chalkin'' with the Chickadees in August of 1946 reached #1 on Billboard. Carmichael also issued his first memoir, 'The Stardust Road', in 1946.

'Ole Buttermilk Sky' Hoagy Carmichael

Recorded 12 May 1946 in Los Angeles ARA 155 Charts at #2 Oct 1946

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael / Jack Brooks

'Huggin' and Chalkin'' Hoagy Carmichael w the Chickadees

Recorded 19 Aug 1946 in Los Angeles w Vic Schoen & His Orchestra

Decca 23675 / Brunswick 03709 Charts at #1 Nov 1946

Composition: Clancy Hayes / Kermit Goell

'The Monkey Song' Hoagy Carmichael

From the film 'Las Vegas Story' starring Jane Russell Released 30 Jan 1952

Decca 23675 / Brunswick 03709 Charts at #1 Nov 1946

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

In 1953 Carmichael hosted his own television show, 'Saturday Night Review', having now passed the golden years of his career. Also passing was a marriage of nineteen years to his first wife, Ruth Mary Meinardi, who divorced him in 1955. Ray Charles issued Carmichael's 'Georgia on my Mind' in 1960. George Harrison covered 'Hong Kong Blues' in 1961, the same year Carmichael sang 'Yabba Dabba Doo' toward the first episode of season two of 'The Flintstones'.

'Yabba Dabba Doo' Hoagy Carmichael Television

From the cartoon 'The Hit Songwriters' Episode 29 of 'The Flintstones' aired 15 Sep 1961

Composition: Hoyt Curtin

Carmichael supported Republican, Barry Goldwater, in the 1964 Presidential election. He issued his second memoir, 'Sometimes I Wonder', in 1965. He retired in the latter sixties by which time royalties were bringing in $300,000 a year. Owning a home on Sunset Boulevard with another in Rancho Mirage, he collected coins, golfed and painted, then married a second time in 1977 with actress, Dorothy Wanda McKay. Among the last songs that Carmichael recorded were 'Hong Kong Blues', 'Georgia On My Mind', 'Star Dust' and 'Small Fry' among others circa May 1981 with Annie Ross & Georgie Fame toward their album, 'In Hoagland'. The final performance of his career was a television spot with Crystal Gayle in December of 1981.