Vernon Duke
Vernon Duke, originally named Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dukelsky, was born on October 10, 1903, in Parfyanovka, near Pskov, Russia. A Russian-born American composer, Duke was renowned for his sophisticated melodies in films, Broadway musicals, and revues. His notable works include "April in Paris" from the revue Walk a Little Faster (1932) and "I Can’t Get Started" from Ziegfeld Follies of 1936.
Duke fled the Russian Revolution at age 16, settling briefly in Constantinople before moving to the United States in 1921. Influenced by George Gershwin, whom he met in New York, Duke adopted his Americanized name and delved into American popular music. Despite his success in popular music, he also composed classical works, such as the ballet Zéphyr et Flore for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and two symphonies.
Settling permanently in the United States in 1929, Duke collaborated with lyricists like Ira Gershwin, E.Y. Harburg, and Ogden Nash. His song "Banjo Eyes" became comedian Eddie Cantor's theme. In 1940, he received acclaim for his score for the Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky. Duke also composed classical music under his birth name, including the concerto Dédicaces and the oratorio The End of St. Petersburg.
In the 1940s, Duke contributed to the Coast Guard revue Tars and Spars and the Broadway production of Sadie Thompson. He translated American songs into Russian for Radio Liberty and composed for the Broadway production of Jean Anouilh's Time Remembered in 1957. His autobiography, Passport to Paris, was published in 1955. Vernon Duke passed away on January 16, 1969, in Santa Monica, California.
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