Sonny Burke (1914-1980) is perhaps best known as a big band leader and arranger, who worked with Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme and Frank Sinatra among many others. Burke produced Sinatra’s 1980 triple album ‘Trilogy’ just before his death from cancer.
His first significant arranging work came in the 1940s with Jimmy Dorsey and Charlie Spivak. He worked with Peggy Lee on songs for the 1955 Disney film, The Lady And The Tramp, including ‘He’s A Tramp’, which Lee herself recorded, as have Bette Midler, Melody Gardot and many others. Burke wrote the instrumental ‘Midnight Sun’ with Lionel Hampton. Lyricist Johnny Mercer supposedly heard the song on the radio while driving, and came up with the lyric before arriving at his destination. He also wrote ‘Black Coffee’ in 1948 with Paul Francis Webster.
Key Songs:
‘Black Coffee’ 1948
‘Midnight Sun’ 1954
‘He’s A Tramp’ 1955