Vernon Duke
Vernon Duke (10 October [O.S. 27 September] 1903 – 16 January 1969) was a Russian-born American composer and songwriter who also wrote under his birth name, Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for "Taking a Chance on Love," with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche (1940); "I Can't Get Started," with lyrics by Ira Gershwin (1936); "April in Paris," with lyrics by E. Y. ("Yip") Harburg (1932), and "What Is There To Say," for the Ziegfeld Follies of 1934, also with Harburg.
Duke wrote the words and music for "Autumn in New York" (1934) for the revue Thumbs Up! In his book American Popular Song, The Great Innovators 1900-1950, composer Alec Wilder praises this song, writing, “The verse may be the most ambitious I’ve ever seen."
Duke also collaborated with lyricists Johnny Mercer, Ogden Nash, and Sammy Cahn.
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