Hoagy Carmichael

(1899-1981)

Carmichael's easy-going style came through in his singing, piano playing, and acting, as well as his songwriting. His songs frequently celebrated small-town and rural America. His most famous composition, Stardust, is one of the most recorded songs of all time. Other well-known Carmichael songs include The Nearness of You, Skylark (with Johnny Mercer), and Georgia on My Mind.

In 1996 the United States Postal Service recognized Harold Arlen when it issued the Songwriters Commemorative stamps. The four subjects for the Songwriters stamps are among the most popular and successful composers of all time: Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael, Dorothy Fields, and Johnny Mercer.