Johnny Burke | |
|---|---|
 Burke, c. 1960 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | John Francis Burke (1908-10-03)October 3, 1908 Antioch, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Antioch, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 1964(1964-02-25) (aged 55) |
| Genres | Popular music |
| Occupation | Lyricist |
| Years active | 1926–1964 |
| Labels | Paramount Pictures |
John Francis Burke (October 3, 1908 – February 25, 1964) was an Americanlyricist, successful and prolific between the 1920s and 1950s.[1] His work is considered part of theGreat American Songbook.
His song "Swinging on a Star", from theBing Crosby filmGoing My Way, won anAcademy Award for Best Song in 1944.
Burke was born inAntioch,California, United States, the son of Mary Agnes (Mungovan), a schoolteacher, and William Earl Burke, a structural engineer.[2] When he was still young, his family moved toChicago, Illinois, where Burke's father founded a construction business. As a youth, Burke studied piano and drama.[3] He attendedCrane College and then theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, where he played piano in the orchestra.[4]
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1927, Burke joined the Chicago office of theIrving Berlin Publishing Company in 1926 as a pianist and song salesman. He also played piano in dance bands andvaudeville.[5]
Irving Berlin Publishing transferred Burke to itsNew York City office, where he began to write lyrics in collaboration with composerHarold Spina.[6] In 1932, they wrote "Shadows on the Swanee", followed in 1933 by "Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore", their first big hit for theGuy Lombardo Orchestra.[1] In 1934, Burke and Spina wrote "You're Not the Only Oyster in the Stew", which was a novelty hit forFats Waller, as was "My Very Good Friend, the Milkman".[1] Burke and Spina wrote many songs that were played by leading bands of the day, including those led byBen Pollack,Paul Whiteman andOzzie Nelson.[5] The Burke - Spina partnership ended in 1936 when Burke left for Hollywood.[1]
Burke's first partner in Hollywood wasArthur Johnston.[7] He then worked withJimmy Monaco,[8] but he was to make his mark in collaboration withJimmy Van Heusen.[9] The team of Burke and Van Heusen turned out some of the great hit tunes of the 1940s. Burke signed a contract withParamount in 1939, and spent his entire career with the same studio. Burke's primary function as a lyricist was working on the films ofBing Crosby.[1] Of the 41 films on which he worked, 25 starred Crosby. Seventeen songs were substantial hits, including "Pennies from Heaven", "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams", "Only Forever", "Moonlight Becomes You" and "Sunday, Monday, or Always".[10]
Another Burke-Van Heusen song that Crosby recorded was "Sunshine Cake",[11] which Crosby also sang withClarence Muse andColeen Gray inFrank Capra's 1950Paramount filmRiding High.[12][13] The song was also recorded byPeggy Lee,[11]Jo Stafford andDick Haymes,[14] and laterTiny Tim.[15] Other Burke-Van Heusen songs Crosby performed inRiding High included "A Sure Thing", "Someplace on Anywhere Road", and "The Horse Told Me".
In 1939, Burke wrote the lyrics for "Scatterbrain", with music byFrankie Masters and "What's New?" withBob Haggart.[1] In 1955, Burke added lyrics to a standard byjazzpianistErroll Garner entitled "Misty".[1] Burke also wrote the words and music to theNat King Cole song "If Love Ain't There".
The filmThe Vagabond King (1956) was Burke's last Hollywood work. In 1961, Burke both composed the music and wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musicalDonnybrook!, which was based on the 1952 filmThe Quiet Man. The show opened May 18, ran for 68 performances (plus two previews), and closed on July 15.
Burke and Van Heusen's song "Swinging on a Star", from the Bing Crosby filmGoing My Way, won anAcademy Award for Best Song in 1944, one of sevenAcademy Awards won by the film.[16] Burke was posthumously inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.[4]
In 1995, Burke's life was depicted in the Broadwaymusical revue,"Swinging on a Star".[17]
Burke was married four times. He was married to Mary Mason in the 1960s, who played Liesl inThe Sound of Music on Broadway. He was married to Bess Patterson from 1939 to 1955; the marriage produced three children.
In February 1964, Burke died in New York City from a heart attack at the age of 55.[16]
Among the landmarks of Burke's songwriting career were:
