| American composer, 1908-1964. Born Joseph A. Burke Oct. 3, 1908, in Antioch, California.
Composer most active from the late 1920's through the 1940's. With Harold Spina, he wrote hits for Guy Lombardo, Ozzie Nelson, and Fats Waller. Burke is best remembered for his years in Hollywood, where he was teamed with Jimmy Van Heusen
turning out some of the great hit tunes of the late 1930s and 1940s. Stayed with Paramount Pictures his whole career, primarily as a lyricist for Bing Crosby films.
The 25 Crosby films had 17 songs that made the Hit Parade, including such as:
"Pennies From Heaven," "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams," "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," "Moonlight Becomes You," and"Sunday, Monday and Always."
In 1944, Burke and Van Heusen won the Academy Award for Best Song for "Swingin' On a Star." Burke died Feb. 25 1964 in New York. | 
