Johnny Burke

Songwriter

Birthday October 3, 1908

Birth Sign Libra

Birthplace California

DEATH DATE Feb 25, 1964 (55)

#178,783 Most Popular

About

Best known for Swinging on a Star and Pennies from Heaven. He was revered as one of America's greatest mid-20th century songwriters.

Before Fame

He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, immediately joining the Irving Berlin Publishing Company as a pianist and song salesman following graduation.

Trivia

His song Swinging on a Star won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1944.

Family Life

He married second wife Bessie Patterson in 1939. The couple had one child together.

Associated With

He wrote songs for many films starring Bing Crosby, the best known of which, Going My Way, won him an Academy Award for Best Song for Swinging on a Star in 1944.