- published: 10 Oct 2008
- views: 163122
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.
Matt Dennis - Angel Eyes
Angel Eyes - Matt Dennis
Matt Dennis "Angel Eyes"
Violets For Your Furs Matt Dennis
Matt Dennis - "Violets For Your Furs" (1957)
Everything Happens to Me - Matt Dennis
The Night We Called It A Day - Matt Dennis
Matt Dennis - Blue Moon
Matt Dennis - Relax
Will You Still Be Mine - Matt Dennis
''The Rosemary Clooney Show'' - Matt Dennis and Frances Bergen
The Hi-lo's and Matt Dennis - Relax
Earl Brent - Angel Eyes (Music By Matt Dennis)
Gerhard Gschossmann - "Angel eyes" - (Matt Dennis / Earl Brent, 1946) - fingerstyle solo guitar
I bring myself to see, that I'm young and I'm so free...
To do what that I choose, ignore what expected of me,
And live like to the food, that's not how, it's meant to be...
Cos' you set me apart, right from the very start...
And want to show the way to your ever loving heart...
So that I began, my friend do your love inside...
My desires, differ, from what you want me to do...
I've done to him much wrong,
But still he waits for me to see...
What you want me to do,