John Blackburn (songwriter)
Encyclopedia
John M. Blackburn was a lyricist, perhaps best remembered for writing the lyrics to "Moonlight in Vermont
".
He was raised in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio
.
He traveled with a puppet theater that brought him to Vermont
, inspiring the lyrics to "Moonlight in Vermont
", the music was composed by Karl Suessdorf
. It was introduced by Margaret Whiting
in 1944.
In 1957, Oscar Peterson
recorded Blackburn's "Susquehanna".
Moonlight in Vermont (song)
"Moonlight in Vermont" is a popular song about the U.S. state of Vermont, written by John Blackburn and Karl Suessdorf and published in 1943. The lyrics are unusual in that they do not rhyme...
".
He was raised in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.
He traveled with a puppet theater that brought him to Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, inspiring the lyrics to "Moonlight in Vermont
Moonlight in Vermont (song)
"Moonlight in Vermont" is a popular song about the U.S. state of Vermont, written by John Blackburn and Karl Suessdorf and published in 1943. The lyrics are unusual in that they do not rhyme...
", the music was composed by Karl Suessdorf
Karl Suessdorf
Karl Suessdorf was an American composer, best known for his collaboration with lyricist John Blackburn in composing the jazz standard, "Moonlight in Vermont", which was first recorded in 1943 by Billy Butterfield's Orchestra featuring Margaret Whiting...
. It was introduced by Margaret Whiting
Margaret Whiting
Margaret Whiting was a singer of American popular music and country music who first made her reputation during the 1940s and 1950s.-Youth:...
in 1944.
In 1957, Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
recorded Blackburn's "Susquehanna".
External links
- Blackburn biography, originally published in the Newport News-Times
- John Blackburn from Jazz Biographies