Eddie DeLange
Eddie DeLange, born Edgar DeLange Moss on January 15, 1904, in Long Island, New York, was an influential American bandleader and lyricist. He hailed from a family steeped in the arts, with his father being a lyricist and playwright and his mother a Broadway musical star. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1926, DeLange initially pursued a career as a stuntman in Hollywood, working on 24 Universal Studios films, often doubling for actor Reginald Denny.
In 1932, DeLange shifted his focus to music, returning to New York and securing a contract with Irving Mills. His early success was marked by several hit songs, including "Moonglow," "Solitude," and "I Wish I Were Twins," earning him the ASCAP prize for excellence four times. Teaming up with composer Will Hudson, they formed the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra in 1935, performing over 200 ballroom shows before disbanding in 1938. DeLange then formed his own band and continued touring.
In collaboration with Jimmy Van Heusen, DeLange penned numerous hits, such as "Can I Help It," "All This and Heaven Too," and "Heaven Can Wait." Between 1937 and 1939, his prominence as a lyricist was evident, with his songs regularly featured on radio's "Your Hit Parade." After marrying in 1943, DeLange moved to Los Angeles, where he wrote for the film industry, contributing to movies like "The Bishop’s Wife" and co-writing "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans."
Eddie DeLange's career was tragically cut short when he died at the age of 45 on July 15, 1949, in Los Angeles. His legacy was cemented in 1989 with his induction into The National Academy of Popular Music’s Songwriters Hall of Fame. His works were recorded by legendary artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman.
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