Bernie Hanighen
Bernard D. " Bernie " Hanighen (* April 27, 1908 in Omaha, † 19 October 1976 in New York City ) was an American lyricist, composer and music producer.
Life and work
Bernie Hanighen studied at Harvard University and played the violin; During this time he had already written several musicals and founded its own student jazz band. In April 1929 Hanighen was chairman of the theater clubs in Cambridge and organized a music show called Up Close, for which he inquired the young Henry Fonda, with whom he was friends.
After graduation moved Hanighen to New York City to begin a career in the music industry. Hanighen supported as musical director at Columbia Records the career of Billie Holiday and was with John Hammond co- producer of her early recordings for Vocalion Records offered by 1936 until 1939. Billie Holiday claimed in her autobiography. that Hanighen almost lost his job because he saw to it that they got more money. Lady Day and Hanighen had also briefly an affair and remained lifelong friends. Hanighen was co-author of the song Yankee Doodle Never Went to Town, the Billi Holiday 1935 with Teddy Wilson's band grossed. 1952 Holiday took his written with Paul Coates composition If the Moon Turns Green on.
He had his first hit in 1934, when he wrote Man with Gordon Jenkins When a Woman Loves a to lyrics by Johnny Mercer. In collaboration with Mercer a number of other songs, including Poor Mr. Chisholm ( the 1940 Fred Astaire sang in the musical film Second Chorus ) arose, and Bob White ( Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight), the first time Bing Crosby sang in 1937. Hanighen also wrote for Broadway shows and movies. During the Second World War he was a news anchor at CBS.
Most remembered is his collaboration with Cootie Williams; Hanighen and the Ellington trumpeter wrote a Song for Thelonious Monk's composition 'Round Midnight. He also wrote music and lyrics of the spirituals Two Little Fishes ( and Five Loaves of Bread ), the Josh White interpreted.
More songs were Hanighens
- The Little Man Who Was not There ( with Harold Adamson )
- If the Moon Turns Green ( Paul Coates with )
- My Old Man ( which the Spirits of Rhythm played ), Fare- Thee- Well to Harlem, Poor Mr. Chisholm ( Hoe Down the Bayou ), Me and the Ghost Upstairs, Show Your Linen, Miss Richardson ( with Johnny Mercer )
- Valley Low ( Music by Raymond Scott )
- You're a Joy ( Tadd Dameron with )
- Blue Fool (1949, music by Alec Wilder)
- Baby Doll (1951, with Kenyon Hopkins ).