BIO

Hoagy Carmichael was born Howard Hoagland Carmichael in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1899.    His father was a taxi driver and part-time electrician.    His mother was a pianist who sometimes worked as an accompanist to silent movies.    Carmichael attended Indiana University and the Indiana University School of Law, where he received his Bachelor's degree in 1925 and a law degree in 1926. He played the piano to support his studies.    After graduating in 1926, he moved to Miami to join a local law firm but returned to Indiana in 1927 to devote his energies to music.

Carmichael’s music was heard in 12 Broadway productions between 1936 and 2001, including the hit shows Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978-1982) and Swing! (1999-2001).

Carmichael wrote the music for some of the most enduring popular standards of the 20th Century.    Aside from Stardust (1929) and Georgia on My Mind (1930), his collaborations with Johnny Mercer include Skylark (1941) and In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening (1950), which won the 1952 Oscar for Best Original Song.

Between 1944 and 1948, Carmichael also hosted three musical variety radio programs.

He was also featured in 14 motion pictures between 1937 and 1955.

Carmichael married Ruth Meinardi in 1937, but the couple divorced in 1955.    In 1977, he married the actress Wanda McKay.

Carmichael died of heart failure in Rancho Mirage, California in 1981.    He was 82 years old.

Additional Broadway stage history is available at:

Additional biographical information is available at:

NOTED FILMS

Complete filmography at:

TV SERIES

Laramie