Jimmy Van Heusen American composer Date of Birth: 26.01.1913 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Tin Pan Alley and Early Collaborations
3. Hollywood Success
4. Collaboration with Sammy Cahn
5. Broadway Endeavors
6. Legacy, Honors, and Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Jimmy Van Heusen, born Edward Chester Babcock on January 26, 1913, in Syracuse, New York, discovered his passion for music at an early age. He began composing melodies in high school and adopted the stage name "Van Heusen" from the clothing brand "Phillips-Van Heusen" when he started performing in local shows at the age of 16. Despite his chosen surname, close friends continued to call him "Chet."

While attending Cazenovia Seminary and Syracuse University, Van Heusen befriended Jerry Arlen, the younger brother of composer Harold Arlen. With Harold's support, he wrote songs for performers at the "Cotton" nightclub, including "Harlem Hospitality."

Tin Pan Alley and Early Collaborations

Van Heusen became a staff pianist for Tin Pan Alley publishers and songwriters. He composed the melody for "It's the Dreamer in Me" with lyrics by Jimmy Dorsey. Teaming up with lyricist Eddie DeLange, he penned songs like "Darn That Dream," "Heaven Can Wait," and "So Help Me," establishing a prolific partnership that yielded over 60 compositions by 1940.

Hollywood Success

In 1940, Van Heusen joined forces with lyricist Johnny Burke. The duo relocated to Hollywood and composed music for musicals and films throughout the 1940s and early 1950s. They won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for their pop classic "Swinging on a Star" from the hit musical "Going My Way" (1944). Their compositions also graced the musical "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1949).

During World War II, Van Heusen served as a test pilot for Lockheed while using his birth name as a cover.

Collaboration with Sammy Cahn

After the war, Van Heusen formed a partnership with lyricist Sammy Cahn. Together, they won three Academy Awards for Best Song: "All the Way" (1957) from "The Joker Is Wild," "High Hopes" (1959) from "A Hole in the Head," and "Call Me Irresponsible" (1963) from "Papa's Delicate Condition."

The duo's songs also featured in films like "Ocean's Eleven" (1960) and the musical "Robin and the 7 Hoods" (1964), with the latter's "My Kind of Town" receiving an Oscar nomination. Notable songs from their collaboration include "Love and Marriage," "To Love and Be Loved," "Come Fly with Me," "Only the Lonely," and "Come Dance with Me." Many of their compositions became the titles of Frank Sinatra albums in the late 1950s.

Broadway Endeavors

Van Heusen contributed music to five Broadway musicals: "Swingin' the Dream," "Nellie Bly," "Carnival in Flanders," "Skyscraper," and "Walking Happy." While he did not achieve the same level of success on Broadway as in Hollywood, three of his songs from these musicals became notable standards: "Darn That Dream" from "Swingin' the Dream," "Here's That Rainy Day" from "Carnival in Flanders," and "I Only Miss Her When I Think of Her" from "Skyscraper."

Legacy, Honors, and Personal Life

Jimmy Van Heusen was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971. He composed over 800 songs in total, with over 50 becoming standards. His compositions can be heard in over 120 films and television shows.

Known for his charisma and romantic prowess, Van Heusen never concealed his reputation as a ladies' man. He was described by James Kaplan in his book "Frank The Voice" as "a brilliant pianist who wrote gorgeous, soul-wrenching songs about love... He had money in his pocket. Van Heusen never went home alone."

Despite losing his hair early in life, Van Heusen shaved his head, embracing a style that would become fashionable years later. He preferred composing songs to any other activity, even flying.

Van Heusen married for the first time in 1969 at the age of 56. He retired from songwriting in the late 1970s and passed away on February 6, 1990, in Rancho Mirage, California, due to complications from a stroke.

Throughout his career, Van Heusen received 14 Academy Award nominations, winning four for "Swinging on a Star" (1944), "All the Way" (1957), "High Hopes" (1959), and "Call Me Irresponsible" (1963). He also won an Emmy Award for Best Musical Contribution for "Love and Marriage" with lyrics by Sammy Cahn.