Great American Songbook--The Songwriters Quiz

Answer: Jule Styne, Adolph Green and Betty Comden

Jule Styne wrote the melody and Adolph Green and Betty Comden supplied the lyrics to "Just In Time", first performed by Judy Holliday and Sydney Chaplin in the Broadway musical "Bells Are Ringing". Judy reprised the role and the song in the movie version, this time with Dean Martin.

The song has been covered by multiple artists, but Tony Bennett's 1956 recording has been the most successful. He later recorded it as a duet with Michael Bublé.

Answer: Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin wrote "Always" in 1925 as a wedding gift to his fiancée Ellin McKay. They married the following year. This song has also been covered by multiple artists including Paul McCartney on his album of standards "Kisses On The Bottom", an album he dedicated to his father.

Answer: Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields

Jerome Kern composed the melody and Dorothy Fields wrote the lyrics. The song was written for the movie "Swing Time". Fred Astaire performed it in the movie. "The Way You Look Tonight" won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1936. Among the many cover versions of the song the one by 60s vocal group The Lettermen was a Top 40 hit. Frank Sinatra's version was used in a Budweiser beer commercial in the 70s that featured an appearance by Old Blue Eyes himself.

Answer: Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen

Another movie song, "Moonlight Becomes You" was composed by Jimmy van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was written for the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby movie "Road To Morocco" and sung by Bing to Dorothy Lamour. Crosby's recording of the song reached number one on the Billboard chart in 1942 and remained on the chart for 17 weeks after falling from the top spot.

Answer: Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer

Johnny Mercer got the inspiration for the lyrics to "Accentuate The Positive" from a sermon he heard by the evangelist "Father Divine" who used that phrase as the topic of his sermon. Harold Arlen composed the melody. The song was used in the movie "Here Come The Waves" and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1945. Mercer's recording peaked at number two on the Billboard chart in 1944 and remained on the chart for 13 weeks. Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters' recording was also a hit in 1944.

Answer: Herman Hupfeld

Herman Hupfeld may not be a household name in the annals of songwriting but the legacy of "As Time Goes By", written in 1931, cements his place in the history of popular music. Originally written for the Broadway musical "Everybody's Welcome" the song was first recorded in 1931 by Rudy Vallee.

But most people associate it with the 1942 movie classic "Casablanca", performed by Dooley Wilson. The American Film Institute named it the number two movie song over a 100 year period.

Answer: Vernon Duke and Ira Gershwin

Ira Gershwin didn't just write lyrics for his brother George. He teamed with Harold Arlen, Kurt Weill, Jerome Kern and Vernon Duke who wrote the melody for "I Can't Get Started", a song most closely associated with Bunny Berigan who played trumpet for Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey before breaking away to form his own big band.

The song was one of many chosen by Rod Stewart for his four CD collection: "The Great American Songbook".

Answer: Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin wrote "Cheek to Cheek" for the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movie "Top Hat". The song was nominated for an Oscar in 1936 but lost to "Lullaby of Broadway". Astaire's recording of the song, however, was named the number one song of 1935 based on sales and radio play. In the year 2000 it was placed in the "Grammy Hall of Fame".

Answer: Cole Porter

Cole Porter composed "Begin The Beguine" while on a cruise between Indonesia and Fiji. It was first performed publicly by June Knight in the Broadway musical "Jubilee". A beguine is a Latin dance that is basically a slow rhumba.

Answer: George and Ira Gershwin

Once again it was Fred Astaire who introduced this Gershwin brothers song, performing it in the movie "Shall We Dance". George Gershwin passed away two months after the film's release. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 1937 Academy Awards, losing out to "Sweet Leilani". It has become a staple of recordings based on the "Great American Songbook".