(November 22nd 1899 - December 27th 1981)

Howard Hoagland Carmichael was born in Bloomington, Indiana in 1899 and given his middle name after "The Hoaglands" a circus troop who stayed at the Carmichael home during his mother's pregnancy. He learned to sing and play piano from his mother during his childhood and played his first payed gig for a college fraternity dance in 1918. Hoagy went on to study at Indiana University earning his law degree in 1926 and toured with his "Collegians" to support his studies. Developing his skills as a composer the young pianist wrote "Washboard Blues" and "Boneyard Shuffle" (also recorded as the "Riverboat Shuffle"). In 1927 Hoagy Carmichael would finish and record his most famous composition "Stardust". With lyrics by Mitchell Parish added in 1929 it became one of the most recorded songs of the 20th Century.