Moonglow

Music, Will Hudson (1908–1981) and Irving Mills (1894–1985); words, Eddie DeLange (1904–1949)

Will Hudson and Eddie DeLange co-lead the Hudson DeLange Orchestra for a few years in the ‘30s. I wasn’t able to find another Hudson song I was familiar with, and for DeLange, all I could find was that he co-wrote “String Of Pearls”, which was made famous by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. But, holy shit, Irving Mills! Mills managed Duke Ellington using a contract that would be, even by today’s standards, very fair. And he co-wrote “Minnie The Moocher” with Cab Calloway and Clarence Gaskill (1892–1948). Gaskill also wrote “Prisoner Of Love”. Mills also co-wrote “Lovesick Blues”––yes, the Jimmie Rodgers/Hank Williams one. During the ‘30s, he sang on six radio stations seven days a week, plugging songs from his publishing company, which is still around––its  best earning song is “Stardust”. Remember the 1943 movie, Stormy Weather? The one with Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Zottie Singleton, Fats Waller, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and the Nicholas Brothers? Mills produced it––the only film he ever produced. When asked to produce others, Mills replied, “It’s too slow”. He recorded dozens of musicians, including the Louis Prima Orchestra. Mills died at the age of 91.