BART HOWARD

Bart Howard, a native of Burlington, Iowa reached New York in 1937 and the following year met Mabel Mercer the day she arrived in this country from her native England. At the suggestion of Marlene Dietrich, Miss Mercer sang one of the young composer’s songs in her American debut at the Ruban Bleu. Later, after World War II, he served as her accompanist for four years before he went to the Blue Angel where he remained for eight years (1952-1960) as pianist and compere, or host. Among the many singers who performed at the Blue Angel, a celebrated night club in those days, were Johnny Mathis and Portia Nelson, who became particularly devoted champions of songs by Bart Howard. Bart’s songs were also part of revues at Upstairs at the Downstairs, another New York night club. Mabel Mercer remained a faithful interpreter of his songs and a close personal friend.

Peggy Lee was an early exponent of “In Other Words” and it was she who suggested changing the title officially to “Fly Me To The Moon”. Frank Sinatra’s recording was on the space ship that made the 1969 moon landing. The song has also been recorded by Tony Bennett and thousands of others. In 1999, it was the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame Towering Song of The Year.

Bart Howard’s closest approach to Broadway came when he and Sam and Bell Spewack tried to make a musical based on the life of Gertrude Lawrence. The project did not work out, but two songs written for it, “Beware of The Woman” and “Who Besides You”, are included in the Bart! song collection.

All in all, Bart Howard has written some 200 songs about love including “My Love Is A Wanderer” and ”I’ll Be Easy to Find”. In recent years Bart Howard songs have been championed by such artists as KT Sullivan, Joyce Breach, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano. Bart’s home town has a burgeoning reputation as a Midwest spot for cabaret music with its Bart Howard Room modeled after the Blue Angel and the Des Moines County Historical Museum with its collection of Bart Howard memorabilia. The Bart Howard Foundation promotes concerts in additional Burlington venues.