Died On This Date (December 27, 1981) Hoagy Carmichael / Influential Composer
themusicsover Hoagy Carmichael
November 22, 1899 – December 27, 1981
Hoagy Carmichael was a highly influential composer and musician who, over the course of a career that spanned from 1918 to 1981 wrote three of the most recorded songs in history. They are “Stardust,” “Georgia on My Mind,” and “Heart and Soul.” Over the years, he collaborated with the likes of Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Johnny Mercer to name just a few. His songs have been recorded by the likes of George Harrison, Ray Charles, Bing Crosby, NOFX, Jan and Dean, and Jamie Foxx with Alicia Keyes. Perhaps one of his biggest honors came in 1961, when he was immortalized as “Stoney Carmichael” in an episode of The Flintstones. On December 27, 1981, Hoagy Carmichael died of heart failure at the age of 82.
What You Should Own
Dean Martin was a pop music, television and film star who was one of the biggest names in entertainment during the ’60s and ’70s. He and his pals, 
Eartha Kitt was a star of stage and screen but also scored a few pop hits over the course of her lengthy career. Her exotic presence on film made her a pop culture icon who is beloved to this day. She is perhaps best remembered for her campy role as Catwoman on the ’60s television series, Batman. She also appeared in such films as St. Louis Blues and The Mark of the Hawk. Kitt made several recordings throughout her career, but it is her 1953 version of “Santa Baby” that is her most famous. She also had hits with “Where Is My Man” and “Under The Bridges of Paris.” Kitt continued to work on stage and film up until the final years of her life. On December 25, 2008, Eartha Kitt died of colon cancer at the age of 81.
