Awards & Winners

Sonny Burke

Date of Birth 22-March-1914
Place of Birth Scranton
(Lackawanna County, United States of America, Pennsylvania, Area code 272)
Nationality United States of America
Also know as Joseph Francis Burke, Burke, Sonny
Profession Bandleader, Composer, Music Arranger
Sonny Burke was an accomplished musical arranger, composer, big band leader and producer. In 1937, he graduated from Duke University, where he had formed and led the jazz big band known as the Duke Ambassadors. During the 1930s and 1940s he was a big band arranger in New York, worked with Sam Donahue's band, and during the 1940s and 1950s worked as an arranger for the Charlie Spivak and Jimmy Dorsey bands, among others. In 1955 he wrote, along with Peggy Lee, the songs to Disney's Lady and the Tramp. He also wrote songs with John Elliot for Disney's Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom which won the 1953 Oscar for Best Short Animated Feature. He wrote the music for number of popular songs that continue to be regarded as 'standards'. These include, Black Coffee, with lyric by Paul Francis Webster, and "Midnight Sun" co-written with jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton. The songs famous lyric was added later by Johnny Mercer. Burke was an active arranger, conductor and 'A and R man' [Artists and repertoire] in major Hollywood recording studios, including and especially Decca Records. He also wrote and arranged the theme for the early 1960s television show Hennesey, a jazzy update of "Sailor's Hornpipe".

Awards by Sonny Burke

Check all the awards nominated and won by Sonny Burke.

1966


Grammy Award for Album of the Year
Honored for : A Man and His Music

Nominations 1966 »

Award Nominated Nominated Work
Grammy Award for Album of the Year A Man and His Music

1965


Grammy Award for Album of the Year
Honored for : September of My Years

Nominations 1965 »

Award Nominated Nominated Work
Grammy Award for Album of the Year September of My Years