Joe Burke (composer)

Joseph A. Burke (March 18, 1884–June 9, 1950) was an American actor, composer and pianist. He was born in Philadelphia and died in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and started a career in acting. His first acting break was in the 1915 film The Senator, his last was The Show of Shows in 1929. He went on to compose film scores. These include:

• Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929)
• Hearts in Exile
• Little Johnny Jones
• She Couldn’t Say No
• Hold Everything
• Dancing Sweeties
• Oh Sailor Behave
• Top Speed
• Sweethearts on Parade
• Sally
• Big Boy and Palooka (also known as The Great Schnozzle)

His hit songs include:

• "Carolina Moon" - Gene Austin (1929)
• "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes" - Nat Shilkret (1930)
• "On Treasure Island" - Tommy Dorsey (1935)
• "Moon Over Miami" - Eddy Duchin (1936)
• "Who Wouldn’t Love You" - Kay Kyser (1942)

He wrote numerous songs, including:

• "Baby Your Mother"
• "Tip Toe Through the Tulips"
• "For You"
• "Yearning"
• "Oh, How I Miss You Tonight"
• "A Little Bit Independent"
• "In a Little Gypsy Tearoom"
• "It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane"
• "In the Valley of the Moon"
• "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine"
• "At a Perfume Counter"
• "Rambling Rose" (1947)
• "By the River of the Roses"
• "The Kiss Waltz"
• "She Was Just a Sailor’s Sweetheart"
• "Robins and Roses"
• "Cling To Me"
• "Midnight Blue"
• "We Must be Vigilant"
• "Villanova Alma Mater"
• "Getting Some Fun Out of Love"
• "There's a Little Picture Playhouse in My Heart"
• "No Wonder (That I Love You)"

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

References

• Songwriters Hall of Fame