Matt Dennis

Matt Dennis (February 11, 1914–June 21, 2002) was a singer, pianist, bandleader, arranger, and writer of music for popular music songs.

He was born in Seattle, Washington. His mother was a violinist and his father a singer, and the family was in vaudeville, so he was early exposed to music. In 1933 he joined Horace Heidt's orchestra as a vocalist and pianist. Later on, he formed his own band, with Dick Haymes as vocalist. He became vocal coach, arranger, and accompanist for Martha Tilton, and worked with a new vocal group, the Stafford Sisters. Jo Stafford, one of the sisters, joined the Tommy Dorsey band in 1940 and persuaded Dorsey to hire Dennis as arranger and composer. Dennis wrote prolifically, with fourteen of his songs recorded by the Dorsey band in one year alone, including "Everything Happens to Me," an early hit for Frank Sinatra.

After three and a half years in the United States Air Force in World War II, Dennis returned to music writing and arranging, getting a boost from his old friend Dick Haymes, who hired him to be the music director for his radio program. With lyricist Tom Adair he wrote songs for Haymes' program.
Dennis made six albums most of which are out of print; however his 1953 song "Angel Eyes" (with lyricist Earl Brent) has become a frequently recorded jazz standard; less frequently recorded, but notably by Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins is "Will You Still Be Mine".



Matt Dennis (11 de febrero de 1914–21 de junio de 2002) fue un cantante, pianista, líder de banda, arreglista y escritor de canciones populares.

Nació en Seattle, Washington. Su madre era violinista y su padre cantante, su familia estaba en un vodevil, así que estuvo expuesto a la música desde corta edad. En 1933 el se unió a la orquesta de Horace Heidt como vocalista y pianista. Más tarde, el formó su propia banda con Dick Haymes como vocalista. El se convirtió en entrenador vocal, arreglista y acompañante de Martha Tilton y trabajó con un nuevo grupo vocal, Stafford Sisters. Jo Stafford, una de las hermanas, se unió a la banda de Tommy Dorsey en 1940 y persuadió a Dorsey de contratar a Dennis como arreglista y compositor. Dennis escribió prolíficamente, con catorce de sus canciones grabadas para la banda de Dorsey en un año, incluyendo "Everything Happens to Me", un éxito temprano para Frank Sinatra.

Después de tres y medio años en la Fuerza Aérea de los Estados Unidos en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Dennis regresó a la música escribiendo y arreglando, obteniendo un estímulo de su viejo amigo Dick Haymes, quien lo contrató para ser el director musical de su programa de radio. Con el letrista Tom Adair el escribió canciones para el programa de Haymes.
Dennis grabó seis álbumes, la mayoría de ellos están fuera de producción.