Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Hoagy Carmichael was a prolific American composer, singer, pianist, and actor who left an indelible mark on 20th-century popular music. He composed several of the most-recorded American songs, including "Stardust" and "Georgia on My Mind," and hosted three musical variety radio programs between 1944 and 1948. Carmichael also appeared in 14 movies and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. 

Born Howard Hoagland Carmichael on November 22, 1899, in Bloomington, Indiana, Hoagy grew up in a musical environment. His mother, who played piano for silent films and local dances, gave him early piano and singing lessons. However, Carmichael was largely self-taught and absorbed diverse musical influences from his neighborhood, including African-American jazz musicians. 

Despite his passion for music, Carmichael initially pursued a more stable career path. He attended Indiana University and graduated in 1925 with a bachelor's degree. He also earned a law degree from Indiana University in 1926. While attending Indiana University, Carmichael led a small jazz band, developing his musical skills. 

Carmichael's career as a composer and performer took off in the late 1920s. He made his recording debut on May 19, 1925, with Hitch's Happy Harmonists. In 1927, he recorded the original instrumental version of "Stardust," which initially went unnoticed but later became a massive hit after lyrics were added by Mitchell Parish in 1929. 

In 1936, Carmichael moved to Hollywood, where he composed music for films and appeared as an actor in 14 movies. His on-screen debut occurred in 1937 in "Topper," where he performed his song "Old Man Moon". 

Between 1944 and 1948, Carmichael hosted three musical variety radio programs: "Tonight at Hoagy's" (1944-1945) on Mutual radio, "Something New" (1945-1946) on NBC, and "The Hoagy Carmichael Show" (1946-1948) on CBS. In the 1950s, he transitioned to television, hosting "Saturday Night Review" in June 1953. 

Throughout his career, Carmichael composed over 500 songs, including 50 hit records. He won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1951 for "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening". His other notable compositions include "The Nearness of You," "Heart and Soul," and "Skylark". 

Carmichael was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971 and received an honorary Doctor of Music from Indiana University in 1972. He wrote two autobiographies: "The Stardust Road" (1946) and "Sometimes I Wonder: The Story of Hoagy Carmichael" (1965). 

Hoagy Carmichael passed away on December 27, 1981, in Rancho Mirage, California, at the age of 82. His legacy lives on through his timeless compositions and the Hoagy Carmichael Collection at Indiana University, which includes his archives, piano, and memorabilia. 

December 2024