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Memory Lane -- by Jeanne Arrendale
The Old Music Master, Hoagy Carmichael, Part 2                February 2005

One can’t mention Hoagy Carmichael without mentioning “Star Dust”.  Ranked among the best American
songs ever written, it has been recorded almost 500 times.  Mitchell Parish’s lyrics have been translated into
forty languages.  It is perhaps the only song ever recorded on both sides of the same disc, one side featuring
an arrangement by Tommy Dorsey and the other an arrangement by Benny Goodman.  

In 1936 Hoagy began writing songs for films, working with several different lyricists.  His songs could be
heard in dozens of films over the next two decades.  He won an Academy Award for Best Song in 1951 for “In
the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” from the film Here Comes the Groom.  He also wrote two stage musicals
during that time.  Of course we will never forget his other marvelous songs, which include “Georgia On My
Mind,” “Lazy River,” “I Get Along Without You Very Well,”  “ Two Sleepy People,”  “Heart and Soul,” “The
Nearness Of You” and the very lovely “Skylark” (one of my very favorites).   These are just a few of many –
some rather forgettable.

Not content with all his accomplishments in the music field, Haogy embarked on an acting career and in 1944
he appeared in his first film, To Have and Have Not, which starred Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and
Walter Brennan.  He appeared in several more films over the next ten years.

Hoagy Carmichael wrote two autobiographies.  In the first , The Stardust Road (1946), there is a letter from
his boyhood friend, Wad Allen, complaining that he left out all the really important things.  His second book,
Sometimes I Wonder, came out in 1966, with just as many details left out.  Surely, we can forgive this in a man
who has given us so much music that is singable, playable...and unforgettable.

Georgia On My Mind, written in 1930 with lyrics by his college chum, Stuart Gorrell, this was one of Hoagy’s
early songs.  Fats Waller, Frankie Lane and Mildred Bailey are among the dozens of artists who have
recorded this song.  Ray Charles’s 1960 rhythm and blues version earned him two Grammy awards, and
nearly 20 years later, in 1978, Willie Nelson’s country style recording also earned a Grammy.  In 1979, it was
adopted as  Georgia’s official state song.

Lazy River was first recorded in 1931 by the Dorsey brothers Joe Venuti on violin and Eddie Lang on guitar.  
17 years later in 1948, it was used in the soundtrack for the Academy Award winning film “The Best Years Of
Our Lives.”  The Mills Brothers’ 1952 recording climbed the charts, reaffirming the enduring quality of yet
another H. Carmichael song.     ( Sheet Music Magazine  02/1987)

Editor’s Note:  A great biography of Hoagy was published in 2004.  Written by Dick Sudhalter, it is called
Stardust Melody, and published by the Oxford Press.  Sudhalter also wrote Bix: Man and Legend, and Lost
Chords.
The Old Music Master, Hoagy Carmichael                       January 2005

In Mark White’s book, “You Must Remember This”, Howard Hoagland “Hoagy” Carmichael is listed as a
composer, author, pianist, singer and actor.  Attorney could also have been added to that list, since Hoagy
Carmichael, whose early education was a hit-or-miss affair that extended over a long period, was
determined to establish a foundation of respectability, and finally graduated with a Bachelor of Law
degree from his hometown college, the University of Indiana.

This attempt at a sober and conservative lifestyle was doomed to failure, even before it began.  Hoagy was
hooked on music, especially jazz, since he was 16 years old, when, as a self-taught piano player, he met
Reggie Duval, a black pianist who played at one of the local Indianapolis nightspots.  Duval gave him
lessons and introduced him to improvisational blues and jazz.  Hoagy Carmichael, pianist was born.

Thanks to Duval’s training, Hoagy was soon earning money as a pianist with a local band – enough money
to pay for his college studies, in the early 20’s.  It was during this time that he met many early jazz greats,
including King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, George Johnson, saxophonist Don Murray and cornetist, Bix
Beiderbecke, who became Hoagy’s hero.  It was their encouragement that led Hoagy to write his first
song, in 1924.  He titled it “Free Wheelin’” but when Bix and his group, “The Wolverines” recorded it, they
changed the title to “Riverboat Shuffle.”  Hoagy Carmichael, composer was born.

In 1926, Hoagy finally received his law degree.  He was invited by Stuart Gorell, an old friend from
Bloomington, to move to Miami to set up a practice.  Jazz and other music were behind him.  A sober life
and a career as a distinguished attorney were to be the important things.
important things.  A sober life and a career as a distinguished attorney were to be the
important things.

En route from Indiana to Florida he ended up in New York, to see publisher Irving Mills about his song
“Washboard Blues.”  After a few days of immersing himself in the jazz talent that was in New York
though, he did get to Miami.  He even put out his shingle, Hoagland Carmichael, Esq., Attorney At Law.

Then one day he heard Red Nichols’ latest recording of “Washboard Blues” back to back with another of
his compositions, “Boneyard Shuffle,” and it was goodbye to a legal career and home again to Bloomington
and Bix Beiderbecke and the gang.

Back in Bloomington, he collaborated with Paul Whiteman on a recording of “Washboard Blues.”  This was
the first tune that his rasping singing voice was preserved on records, and his title “singer” became
official.   
(to be continued)                           Sheet Music Magazine  02/1987  
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Editor:  Phil Cartwright                           Editor@earlyjas.org
Earlville Association for Ragtime Lovers Yearning
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