Michael Edwards (American composer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Edwards was an American
composer
and musician
, known for composing the 1937 hit "Once in a While
". He was also a classical violin
ist, organist
and music arranger.
Edwards's most famous composition, "Once in a While", became a number one hit for Tommy Dorsey
and His Orchestra, and later for Patti Page
(1957) and The Chimes
(1961). The song is now considered a jazz standard
. None of Edwards's other songs achieved the popularity of "Once in a While", and he has been called "a perfect example of a one-hit composer
".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, known for composing the 1937 hit "Once in a While
Once in a While
"Once in a While" is a popular song, written by Michael Edwards with lyrics by Bud Green. The song was published in 1937.The song is a much-recorded standard. Tommy Dorsey's recording in 1937 went to number one in the United States...
". He was also a classical violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, organist
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and music arranger.
Edwards's most famous composition, "Once in a While", became a number one hit for Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
and His Orchestra, and later for Patti Page
Patti Page
Clara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
(1957) and The Chimes
The Chimes (US band)
The Chimes were an American doo wop group from Brooklyn.The group came together under the direction of lead singer Lenny Cocco in the mid 1950s. Their first single was a version of Tommy Dorsey's "Once in a While", released on Tag Records. The song became a hit in the U.S., peaking at #11 on the...
(1961). The song is now considered a jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
. None of Edwards's other songs achieved the popularity of "Once in a While", and he has been called "a perfect example of a one-hit composer
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
".