Hoagy Carmichael

Full Name: Hoagland Howard Carmichael
Profession: Songwriter, Pianst, and Singer

Nationality:

Biography: One of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s, he was also one of the first singer-songwriters when he developed as a performer as well. He wrote over 200 songs, 50 of which were hits, and several became jazz and pop standards, notably "Stardust", "Heart and Soul", "Skylark", and "Thanks for the Memory".

Named 'Hoagland' in honor of a circus troupe, Carmichael was taught piano by his mother and a neighbor in Indiana. He worked in mid-west jazz bands while attending college and law school, eventually abandoning law for music after gaining success with his songwriting.

He worked as both a musician and songwriter in New York, before moving in 1936 to Hollywood to write songs for films. While there, he developed a side career as a character actor, usually playing the part of a musician, in over a dozen films. In 1951 he won an Academy Award, with lyricist Johnny Mercer, for their song "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening".

In 1960, Carmichael was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was one of the charter inductees into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1971. The US Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp of Carmichael as part of its American Songwriters series.

Born: November 22, 1899
Birthplace: Bloomington, Indiana, USA

Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: December 27, 1981 (aged 82)
Cause of Death: Heart attack