James Francis McHugh (July 10, 1894 – May 23, 1969) was a U.S. composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he composed over 270 songs. His songs were recorded by such artists as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, June Christy, Peggy Lee, and Ella Fitzgerald.
After struggling in a variety of jobs, including rehearsal pianist for the Boston Opera House and pianist/song plugger...
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James Francis McHugh (July 10, 1894 – May 23, 1969) was a U.S. composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he composed over 270 songs. His songs were recorded by such artists as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, June Christy, Peggy Lee, and Ella Fitzgerald.
After struggling in a variety of jobs, including rehearsal pianist for the Boston Opera House and pianist/song plugger for Irving Berlin’s publishing company, in 1921, at the age of 26, McHugh relocated to New York City. Eventually finding employment as a professional manager with the prominent music publisher Jack Mills Inc., it was here that McHugh published his first song “Emaline”, and briefly teamed up with Irving Mills as The Hotsy Totsy Boys to write the hit song “Everything Is Hotsy Totsy Now”. This songwriting partnership was just the first of McHugh’s many illustrious collaborations, among them Ted Koehler (“I’m Shooting High”), Al Dubin (“South...
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