Composer Jimmy Van Heusen was born Edward Chester Babcock, in Syracuse, New York on January 26, 1913. Growing up in Syracuse, he began writing songs while still in high school. At the age of 16, he had a regular program on a small Syracuse radio station and as an announcer and adopted the last name of Van Heusen (inspired by the men’s Collar manufacture of the same name). After graduating from high school, Van Heusen attended Cazenovia College and Syracuse University where he studied music with instructor Colburn and later with Howard Lyman.
Moving to New York City in 1933, Van Heusen took a job as a staff pianist with Remick Music Publishing. In 1938, on the heels of his first hit publication “It’s the Dreamer In Me”, Van Heusen was put under contract with Remick as a songwriter and began collaborating with lyricist Eddie De Lange. In the short time De Lange and Van Heusen worked together, they produced nearly 20 hit songs, including “All I Remember is You”, “All This and Heaven Too”, “Can I Help it”, “Darn That Dream”, “There’s Gotta be a Weddin’”, “Deep In a Dream”, “This Is Madness to Love”, “Good For Nothin’ But Love”, “Heaven Can Wait”, “Looking For Yesterday”, “Sympathy”, “Moonland”, “Peace, Brother”, “Shake Down the Stars”, “So Help Me” and “Swingin’ a Dream”.
By 1939, Van Heusen had started working with another lyricist, Johnny Burke. Together, the two began their own publishing firm BurVan, Inc. Van Heusen would continue to be an active music publisher for the rest of his career founding the firms Maraville Music Corp. and Famous Music.
Collaborating…
Discography Highlights
LOVE AND MARRIAGE
Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn
Barton Music Corp./Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
SWINGING ON A STAR
Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
Music Sales Corp./Bourne Co.
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