Vernon Duke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vernon Duke
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dukelsky |
| Born | 10 October 1903 Vilna Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 16 January 1969 (aged 65) Santa Monica, California, United States |
| Genres | Broadway musicals, Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, composer |
Vernon Duke (born 10 October [O.S. 27 September] 1903 – died 16 January 1969) was an American composer and songwriter. He also used his original name, Vladimir Dukelsky, for his classical music.
Duke is famous for writing many popular songs. These include "Taking a Chance on Love" (1940), "I Can't Get Started" (1936), and "April in Paris" (1932). He wrote both the words and music for "Autumn in New York" (1934). Vernon Duke worked with many talented lyricists. Some of them were Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin, and Ogden Nash.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to America
Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dukelsky was born in 1903. His family was from a noble background. They had roots in Georgia, Austria, Spain, and Russia. He was born in a small town called Parafianovo. This place was in the Russian Empire, which is now Belarus.
When he was 11, Vladimir started studying music. He went to the Kiev Conservatory. There, he learned about composition and music theory. In 1919, his family had to leave Russia. They were escaping the civil war. They spent time as refugees in Constantinople (now Istanbul).
In 1921, his family got visas for America. They traveled by ship to New York. When he arrived at Ellis Island, his name was written as Vladimir Doukelsky. In 1922, a famous American composer, George Gershwin, became his friend. Gershwin suggested that Vladimir shorten and Americanize his name. This is how he started using the name Vernon Duke for his popular songs. However, he kept writing classical music and Russian poetry under his birth name until 1955.
Vernon Duke's Music Career
In 1924, Vernon Duke moved to Paris, France. There, he was asked to compose a ballet by Sergei Diaghilev. His first ballet, Zephyr and Flora, was performed in 1925. It was a big success! Another famous composer, Sergei Prokofiev, praised his work. He said it had "superior melodies" and was "harmonically beautiful." Prokofiev and Duke became close friends.
In the late 1920s, Duke split his time. He was in Paris for classical music. He was in London for musical comedies. In 1929, he came back to the United States. He wanted to focus on Broadway musicals. His songs like "April in Paris" (1932) and "Autumn in New York" (1934) became big hits in the 1930s.
A conductor named Serge Koussevitzky strongly supported Duke's classical works. He helped Duke develop his more serious compositions. In 1937, Duke was asked to finish a movie score. It was for the film The Goldwyn Follies. The original composer, George Gershwin, had passed away. In 1939, Vladimir Dukelsky officially became an American citizen. He then legally changed his name to Vernon Duke.
His biggest success came in 1940. It was the Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky. This show was choreographed by George Balanchine. It featured an all-black cast.
Military Service
From 1942 to 1944, Vernon Duke joined the Coast Guard. While serving, he discovered Sid Caesar, who later became a famous comedian. Duke wrote a touring show for the Coast Guard called Tars & Spars. During this time, he also composed important classical pieces. These included a Cello Concerto and a Violin Concerto.
Later Years and Works
In 1946, Duke moved to France. He continued writing both classical music and popular songs. By 1948, he was back in America. He moved to California. There, he spent his last years writing songs, movie scores, and chamber music. He also wrote poetry in Russian and articles in English.
On October 30, 1957, he married singer Kay McCracken. His last Broadway appearance was soon after. He wrote songs and music for the play Time Remembered. He kept trying to create new Broadway musicals. However, some of them never made it to the stage.
As a classical composer, Dukelsky's music was unique. It had a modern sound. As a songwriter, he had his own special style. He was often compared to composers like George Gershwin.
Death
Vernon Duke passed away in Santa Monica, California, on January 16, 1969. He died during surgery for lung cancer. His many writings and musical pieces are now kept at the Library of Congress.
Main Works
Here are some of the important works by Vernon Duke:
As Vladimir Dukelsky (Classical Music)
- Zéphyr et Flore (1925): A ballet.
- Cello Concerto (1946): A piece for cello and orchestra.
- Piano Concerto (orchestrated by Scott Dunn): A piece for piano and orchestra.
As Vernon Duke (Songs and Musicals)
- 1931 – Tarnished Lady
- 1932 – Walk A Little Faster
- "April in Paris"
- 1934 – Ziegfeld Follies of 1934
- "I Like the Likes of You"
- "What Is There To Say?"
- 1934 – Thumbs Up!
- "Autumn in New York"
- 1936 – Ziegfeld Follies of 1936
- "I Can't Get Started"
- 1940 – Cabin in the Sky
- "Taking a Chance on Love"
- "Cabin in the Sky"
- 1944 – Sadie Thompson
- 1952 – Two's Company
- "It Just Occurred to Me"
- 1963 – Zenda
See also
In Spanish: Vernon Duke para niños
