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John Francis "Johnny" Burke (October 3, 1908 – February 25, 1964) was a lyricist, widely regarded as one of the finest writers of popular songs in America between the 1920s and 1950s. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1927, Burke joined the Chicago office of the Irving Berlin Publishing Company in 1926 as a pianist and song salesman. He also played piano in dance bands and vaudeville[1]. Irving Berlin Publishing eventually transferred Burke to its New York City office, where he began to write lyrics in collaboration with composer Harold Spina.[2] This partnership lasted until 1936, when Burke left for Hollywood. In Hollywood, Burke worked on 41 films, 25 of which starred Bing Crosby. Burke's first Hollywood partner was composer Arthur Johnston[3]; the two collaborated on the soundtrack to the 1936 film Pennies from Heaven, which spawned the hit song of the same name. Burke next collaborated with Jimmy MonacoJimmy Monaco. Songwriters Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved on May 30, 2019. and produced hits "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams" and "Only Forever". It was with Jimmy Van Heusen that Burke made his mark, as the two produced some of the great hit tunes of the late 1930s and 1940s[4], such as "Moonlight Becomes You" and "Sunday, Monday, or Always"[5]. Their song "Swinging on a Star", from the Bing Crosby film Going My Way, won an Academy Award for Best Song in 1944. Read more here... References
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Johnny Burke
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