1899–1981 · American Composer, Lyricist & Pianist
Carmichael brought the wandering spirit of the Indiana countryside into jazz — his melodies meander and surprise, with unexpected intervals and lazy, unhurried rhythms that demand singers to lean in and trust the line. His songs have an intimate, conversational quality that rewards the singer who listens.
Hoagy Carmichael grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where he absorbed ragtime, blues, and early jazz from the musicians who passed through. After studying law at Indiana University — where he befriended a young Bix Beiderbecke — he turned to music full-time, eventually writing some of the most enduring songs in the American popular canon. His collaborators ranged from Johnny Mercer to Frank Loesser, but Carmichael's musical voice was always recognizable: unhurried, gently melancholy, rooted in the vernacular of the American Midwest.
This workshop showcases ten of Carmichael's most singer-friendly songs — from the bluesy elegance of Georgia on My Mind and Baltimore Oriole, to the languid beauty of Skylark and The Nearness of You, to the sunny warmth of Lazy Bones and Up a Lazy River, plus How Little We Know, I Get Along Without You Very Well, and Two Sleepy People. Singers will find a consistent invitation to slow down, breathe, and inhabit the moment — Carmichael never rushes.
Stardust remains one of the most recorded songs in history, and its bridge is a masterclass in how a melody can carry both nostalgia and longing simultaneously. Studying Carmichael is studying how to make something sound effortless while the music does all the work.
Each song includes lead sheet and lyric sheet in both a men's and women's key, plus a practice backing track. In addition, there are YouTube links to a variety of artist renditions to inspire you.