BABCOCK-L Archives

From: Laurie <>
Subject: EDW. C. BABCOCK: FRANK SINATRA
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 10:49:38 -0500

I don't know if anyone is related directly to this Babcock Line. I
thought though, that anyone might be interested in this member of the
Babcock famly. Someone asked about Jimmy Van Heusen quite a few years
ago. He wasn't related to the Babcocks but he was interested in finding
out about Edward's (Jimmy Van Heusen's) family. It took me a few years
to put the pieces of the puzzle together - so here it is. I hope that
you enjoy it.

Laurien Babcock Fan


Van Heusen, Jimmy
b. Jan. 26, 1913, Syracuse, N.Y.,
U.S.
d. Feb. 7, 1990, Rancho Mirage,
Calif.



by name of EDWARD CHESTER BABCOCK, U.S. songwriter who composed for
films,
stage musicals, and recordings that most often featured singers Bing
Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

*(Genealogy) See Below.

Van Heusen worked as a staff pianist at music publishing companies in
New York City before collaborating with lyricist Eddie
de Lange to write songs, including the popular "Darn That Dream," for a
Broadway show Swingin' the Dream. The next year
"Polka Dots and Moonbeams," "All This and Heaven Too," "Shake Down the
Stars," and "Imagination" helped to establish him
as one of the most successful and prolific composers; indeed, in one
season he released 60 songs. With his lyricist partner
(1940-53) Johnny Burke he wrote the songs for 23 Crosby films; in 1954
he began
collaborating with lyricist Sammy Cahn.

Altogether he was credited with composing 76 songs for his friend
Sinatra, including "The Tender Trap" and "Come Fly with
Me." Van Heusen won Oscars for composing "Swinging on a Star" (1944),
"All the Way" (1957), "High Hopes" (1959), and
"Call Me Irresponsible" (1963), and an Emmy for "Love and Marriage"
(1956).

Songs by Jimmy Van Heusen

But Beautiful

It Could Happen To You

Like Someone In Love

Look To Your Heart

Here's That Rainy Day

More Than Likely

( The ) Songs I Love

Swingin' On a Star

When Is Sometime?


Jimmy Van Heusen (1913 - 1990) Born as Edward Chester Babcock in
Syracuse, New York. Van Heusen (he took his name
from the shirt manufacturer) began writing songs for films in 1940,
first in partnership with Johnny Burke and then, from 1954,
Sammy Cahn. Oscar-winning compositions include "Swinging on a Star" from
"Going My Way" (1944) and "High Hopes" from
"A Hole in the Head" (1959). He wrote 76 tunes recorded by Frank Sinatra
(more than any other composer) and the songs for
six of the seven Crosby-Hope "Road" pictures.


Biography

Jimmy Van Heusen was born in Syracuse, New York in 1913 as Edward
Chester Babcock. He adopted his professional name
at the age of 15 when he became a part time radio announcer. "Van
Heusen" was taken from the name of the shirt company. In
1938, while working for Remick Publishing, Inc., Van Heusen met Jimmy
Dorsey and wrote his first hit "It's the Dreamer in
Me". This commenced his three-decade long career writing Tin Pan Alley
hits, movie and show tunes. He won Oscars for
"Swinging on a Star", "High Hopes", and "Call Me Irresponsible", and an
Emmy for "Love and Marriage". Van Heusen wrote
most of his songs with two prominent lyricists - Johnny Burke and Sammy
Cahn, many of which were written for the two
baritones Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Jimmy Van Heusen died in 1990.


Source: ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA



Edward Chester Babcock also went by the name of Chester or Chet
Babcock. Edward C. Babcock's parents were Arthur
E. Babcock, b. 1886 and Ida Mae Foster. He had one brother, Wilbur A.
Babcock, b. 1909. The family lived in Syracuse,
Onondaga County, New York according to the 1920 and 1930 Census.

His Grandfather was Seth A. Babcock b. 1863, m. Martha(?). Great
Grandfather, was Ogden, b. 1827, m. Charlotte, b.
1830. They lived with sons Seth and Edward in Camden, Oneida County,
New York according to 1880 Census.

Ogden's father was Merrit Babcock:

Merritt Babcock, son of Henry and Anna (Bull) Babcock (David,
Ezekiel, Robert, John, James), b. Aug. 5, 1804; m. 1821,
Martha Wells. Lived in Camden, New York, in 1885.
Children:
Ogden, b. Apr. 16, 1827
Oliver, b. Apr. 15, 1829
Samuel, b. Oc. 30, 1830
Henry, b. Nov. 9, 1832
James, b. Aug. 30, 1835
Olive, b. Sept. 8, 1836; m. Mar. 4, 1863, Abiah Whitmore.

Lived 1880, at Camden, NY
Silas, b. Aug. 12, 1838
Susan, b. Jan. 12, 1843
Merritt, b. Apr. 16, 1845

Babcock Genealogy by Stephen Babcock, pub. 1903





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