Education
In 1937, he graduated from Duke University, where he had formed and led the jazz big band known as the Duke Ambassadors.
composer conductor bandleader jazz musician
In 1937, he graduated from Duke University, where he had formed and led the jazz big band known as the Duke Ambassadors.
During the 1930s and 1940s he was a big band arranger in New York, worked with Sam Donahue"s band, and during the 1940s and 1950s worked as an arranger for the Charlie Spivak and Jimmy Dorsey bands, among others In 1955 he wrote, along with Peggy Lee, the songs to Disney"s Lady and the Tramp. He wrote the music for number of popular songs that continue to be regarded as standards.
These include, "Black Coffee", with lyric by Paul Francis Webster, and "Midnight Sun", co-written with jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton.
The song"s famous lyrics were added later by Johnny Mercer. Burke was an active arranger, conductor and A&R man at major Hollywood recording studios, especially Decca Records where he worked with Charles "Bud" Dant.
He also wrote and arranged the theme for the early 1960s television show Hennesey, a jazzy update of the Sailor"s Hornpipe. Later Burke became musical director of Reprise Records and was responsible for many of Frank Sinatra"s albums, and was producer of Sinatra"s iconic recording of "My Way".
He was also bandleader for recordings of leading singers such as Dinah Shore, Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, The Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Tormé.
He was one of the original founders of NARAS, is credited with the formation of the Grammy Awards, and served on the original selection committee. He died of cancer on May 31, 1980, aged 66, in Santa Monica, California. His interment was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.