Donald Macleod explores the life and music of one of America's most beloved songwriters.

America's brightest musical stars have queued up to record Carmichael's songs ever since he produced his first hit, 'Star Dust' in 1927. Many of his most celebrated numbers such as 'Heart and Soul' and 'Georgia on my Mind' have become standards. A self-taught musician, Hoagy's instinct for a winning tune was always coupled with a sophisticated approach to words and music alongside the swinging influence of his jazz origins. Donald Macleod follows Carmichael's story, from his humble origins as the son of an itinerant electrician in Indiana to the bright lights and glamour of Hollywood.

In this second programme, Hoagy has some success with his first recordings, but he's still uncertain about abandoning his legal career for music. Just a things are looking up, a bad investment wipes out his life savings.

Come Easy Go Easy Love
Sunny Clapp and his Band O' Sunshine

March of the Hoodlums
Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra

Rockin' Chair
Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra

Manhattan Rag
Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang

What Kind Of Man Is You?
Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang

Stardust
Isham Jones & His Orchestra

High and Dry
Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang

My Sweet
Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra

Georgia on my Mind
Nat Gonella & His New Georgians

New Orleans
Ella Logan, singer
Hoagy Carmichael and Orchestra

Sing It Way Down Low
Hoagy Carmichael & His Orchestra

One Morning in May
Hoagy Carmichael & His Orchestra

Judy
Hoagy Carmichael & His Orchestra

Thanksgivin'
Hoagy Carmichael & His Orchestra

Skylark
Dinah Shore, voice
The Red Norvo Quintet

How Little We Know
Nat King Cole, singer
Nelson Riddle, conductor. Show less