Vernon Duke

Vernon Duke was a Russian-born American composer and songwriter who also wrote under his birth name, Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for "Taking a Chance on Love," with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche (1940), "I Can't Get Started," with lyrics by Ira Gershwin (1936), "April in Paris," with lyrics by E. Y. ("Yip") Harburg (1932), and "What Is There To Say," for the Ziegfeld Follies of 1934, also with Harburg. He wrote the words and music for "Autumn in New York" (1934) for the revue Thumbs Up! In his book, American Popular Song, The Great Innovators 1900-1950, composer Alec Wilder praises this song, writing, “The verse may be the most ambitious I’ve ever seen." Duke also collaborated with lyricists Johnny Mercer, Ogden Nash, and Sammy Cahn.

10 October 1903

Born on the same birth date (10 October 1903): Bei Shizhang • Prince Charles, Count of Flanders

Born on the same birth day (10 October): Andrew McCutchen • Bei Shizhang • Bernard Mayes • Daniel Pearl • Herb Levinson • John Paston (died 1466) • Jolanda de Rover • Jonathan Littell • Rodjun Cruz • William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield

Born in the same month (October 1903): Bei Shizhang • Big Joe Williams • Bona Arsenault • Ernest Walton • George Beadle • Lina Radke • Pierre Garbay • Pierre Veyron • Walter O'Malley