Burke, Johnny

Johnny Burke Lyricist and publisher Antioch, California, October 3, 1908; New York City, February 25, 1964. Burke was raised in Chicago, where he studied piano and drama. He came to New York in the mid-1920s, and began as a piano salesman. He had his first hit song in 1933 with “Annie Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (with colyricist Joe Young and music by Harold Spina), which was recorded by Guy Lombardo. More collaborations with Spina yielded few hits, although Fats Waller successfully recorded…