Skylark

This was for a potential Broadway musical that didn't materialize for him so composer Hoagy Carmichael asked Johnny Mercer, years later a co-founder of Capitol Records, to write a lyric. It took Johnny months of struggling to find the right words. When he did, it was "Skylark". Hoagy sings the hit with The Pacific Jazzmen, Art Pepper on alto.

The Gene Krupa Orchestra featuring Roy Eldridge on lead trumpet was first to record "Skylark" in 1941 with jazz vocalist Anita O'Day (Colton). This was edited to include the vocal.

The next year Dinah (Fannye Rose) Shore held her own and had the best singles chart rating with the many who recorded "Skylark" at the same time when it peaked at number five on Billboard. Most North Americans loved this woman for her many faceted talents. I joined that group years ago.