Jimmy Van Heusen

Born: January 26, 1913, Syracuse, NY

Died: February 7, 1990, Rancho Mirage, CA

Jimmy Van House was one the most accomplished songwriters in history.

He was practically Frank Sinatra’s private composer. Frank recorded 76 of his songs. They were close friends. Jimmy, a pilot, would often take him flying in his private plane. They also enjoyed that rarefied, high profile, Hollywood nightlife together.

He also composed the songs for another good friend, Bing Crosby He wrote the songs for 6 of the 7 Crosby/Hope Road pictures.

Van Heusen’s mother, Ida May Foster, a descendent of Stephen Foster, taught her son piano. Edward Chester Babcock, as he was born, wrote songs while he was still in Syracuse's Central High School. While there, he had a regular program on a small local radio station. It was during that job that Jimmy adopted the last name of Van Heusen, after the men's Collar manufacturer. After high school, Jimmy attended Cazenovia Seminary followed by Syracuse University.

In college, became friends with another student, Jerry Arlen, whose brother, Harold (“Over The Rainbow”) was then music director for the famous Cotton Club. With Harold’s assistance they began writing songs for the Cotton Club acts.

He became a staff pianist for various Tin Pan Alley publishers and his big break came in 1938 when he wrote "It's The Dreamer In Me" to lyrics that Tommy Dorsey had written.

Claiming four “Oscars” and one Emmy award among his credits, most of his songs were written with two lyricist partners Johnny Burke (1940 to 1953) and then Sammy Chan.

Van Heusen Hits :

Songs written with lyricists Edgar De Lange:

Deep In A Dream 1938 Hit Parade 14 weeks

Heaven Can Wait 1939 Hit Parade 11 weeks

Shake Down The Stars 1940

Darn That Dream 1940 Hit Parade 7 weeks

All This And Heaven Too 1940 Hit Parade 5 weeks

Songs written with lyricists Johnny Burke:

Oh You Crazy Moon 1939 Hit Parade 6 weeks

Imagination 1940 Hit Parade 13 weeks

Polka Dots And Moonbeams 1940

Sunday, Monday and Always 1943 Hit Parade 18 weeks

Moonlight Becomes You 1943 Hit Parade 14 weeks

It Could Happen to You 1944

Swinging On A Star 1944 Hit Parade 19 weeks “Oscar”

Personality 1946 Hit Parade 10 weeks

Aren’t You Glad You’re You 1946 Hit Parade 10 weeks

But Beautiful 1948 Hit Parade 10 weeks

Here's That Rainy Day 1949

Sinatra hits written with lyricists Sammy Cahn:

There Goes That Song Again 1944 Hit Parade 12 weeks

The Tender Trap 1955

Love And Marriage 1955 Hit Parade 8 weeks “Emmy”

All The Way 1957 “Oscar Winner”

Come Fly With Me 1958

It's Nice To Go Trav'ling 1958

Only The Lonely 1958

Pocketful of Miracles 1959 (Oscar Nomination)

High Hopes 1959 Oscar Winner

Come Dance With Me 1959

The Last Dance 1959

Ain't That a Kick In the Head 1960 (Dean Martin Hit)

Ring-a Ding Ding! 1960

The Second Time Around 1960

Call Me Irresponsible 1963 “Oscar Winner”

My Kind Of Town 1964 (Oscar Nomination)

I'll Only Miss Her When I Think of Her 1965

Thoroughly Modern Millie 1967 (Oscar Nomination)

Hit songs written with other lyricists:

I Thought About You 1939 ( Lyrics: Johnny Mercer )

Nancy With The Laughing Face 1945 ( Lyrics: Phil Silvers )