Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
(Gennett 6311)
Recorded 10/31/1927 Richmond, Indiana.
Hoagy Carmichael and His Pals (Musical group)
Hoagy Carmichael (vocalist)
Don Kimmell (instrumentalist : guitar)
Paul Brown (instrumentalist : tuba)
Byron Smart (instrumentalist : trumpet)
Don Kimmell (instrumentalist : banjo)
Hoagy Carmichael (instrumentalist : trumpet)
Oscar Rossberg (instrumentalist : trombone)
Gene Woods (instrumentalist : alto saxophone)
Dick Kent (instrumentalist : alto saxophone)
Cliff Williams (instrumentalist : drums)
Maurice Bennett (instrumentalist : tenor saxophone)
Hoagy Carmichael (instrumentalist : piano)
Emil Seidel (instrumentalist : piano)
Stomp (Title descriptor)
Estrellitas (Parallel (translated) title)
"Stardust" is a 1927 song composed by Hoagy Carmichael, with lyrics later added by Mitchell Parish. It has been recorded as an instrumental or vocal track over 1,500 times. Carmichael developed a taste for jazz while attending Indiana University. He formed his own band and played at local events in Indiana and Ohio. Following his graduation, Carmichael moved to Florida to work for a law firm. He left the law sector and returned to Indiana, after learning of the success of one of his compositions. In 1927, after leaving a local university hangout, Carmichael started to whistle a tune that he later developed further. When composing the song, he was inspired by the end of one of his love affairs, and on the suggestion of a university classmate, he decided on its title. The same year, Carmichael recorded an instrumental version of the song for Gennett Records.
In 1928, Carmichael left Indiana after Mills Music hired him as a composer. Mills Music then assigned Mitchell Parish to add words to the song. Don Redman recorded the song in the same year, and by 1929 it was performed regularly at the Cotton Club. Isham Jones's 1930 rendition of the song made it popular on radio, and soon multiple acts had recorded "Stardust". Because of the song's popularity, by 1936, RCA Victor pressed a double-sided version that featured Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman on respective sides.
By 1940 the song was considered a standard, and it was later included in the Great American Songbook.
After working out the details with the band, Carmichael booked a recording session with Gennett Records for October 31, 1927. Since he had not written any sheet music for the song, he had to whistle the tune to the musicians. Carmichael played the piano, backed by Emil Seidel and his orchestra: Byron Smart (trumpet), Oscar Rossberg (trombone), Dick Kent and Gene Wood (alto saxophones), Maurice Bennett (tenor saxophone), Don Kimmel (guitar), Paul Brown (tuba), Cliff Williams (drums). The session took place at Gennett's studio in Richmond, Indiana. The recording featured a "medium fast and jazzy tempo" with no lyrics. Under the single-word title "Stardust," it was placed on the flipside of "One Night In Havana", assigned the release number 6311, and credited to Hoagy Carmichael and His Pals. Carmichael received a one-sided pressing of "Stardust" from the studio, before he left Indiana in 1928 to work for Mills Music as a composer. The first manuscript for the song was deposited at the United States Copyright Office on January 5, 1928. The sheet music featured a tune in a key of D with no indication of tempo and no lyrics. Mills Music then published different sheet music for the song on January 19, 1929, as a piano composition. Don Redman, who worked for Mills Music, often played the song. After hearing Redman's rendition of it, a company arranger suggested playing the song at a "slower tempo and in a sentimental style". Feeling it could be a potential success, Irving Mills "decided on the song having lyrics added.
Mills assigned lyricist Mitchell Parish to add the words to Carmichael's "Star Dust". Parish used as a working title "Then I Will Be Satisfied", but he accepted Redman's suggestion to re-title the song to "Stardust". Author Gene Fernett suggested Redman wrote the verse of the song, but his claim could not be supported. Parish wrote the song using Carmichael's account of how he was inspired to compose the melody, while the lyricist developed a story focused in the concept of lost love. The sheet music for the vocal composition was published as "Star Dust" on May 10, 1929 in the key of C major.
(Gennett 6311)
Recorded 10/31/1927 Richmond, Indiana.
Hoagy Carmichael and His Pals (Musical group)
Hoagy Carmichael (vocalist)
Don Kimmell (instrumentalist : guitar)
Paul Brown (instrumentalist : tuba)
Byron Smart (instrumentalist : trumpet)
Don Kimmell (instrumentalist : banjo)
Hoagy Carmichael (instrumentalist : trumpet)
Oscar Rossberg (instrumentalist : trombone)
Gene Woods (instrumentalist : alto saxophone)
Dick Kent (instrumentalist : alto saxophone)
Cliff Williams (instrumentalist : drums)
Maurice Bennett (instrumentalist : tenor saxophone)
Hoagy Carmichael (instrumentalist : piano)
Emil Seidel (instrumentalist : piano)
Stomp (Title descriptor)
Estrellitas (Parallel (translated) title)
"Stardust" is a 1927 song composed by Hoagy Carmichael, with lyrics later added by Mitchell Parish. It has been recorded as an instrumental or vocal track over 1,500 times. Carmichael developed a taste for jazz while attending Indiana University. He formed his own band and played at local events in Indiana and Ohio. Following his graduation, Carmichael moved to Florida to work for a law firm. He left the law sector and returned to Indiana, after learning of the success of one of his compositions. In 1927, after leaving a local university hangout, Carmichael started to whistle a tune that he later developed further. When composing the song, he was inspired by the end of one of his love affairs, and on the suggestion of a university classmate, he decided on its title. The same year, Carmichael recorded an instrumental version of the song for Gennett Records.
In 1928, Carmichael left Indiana after Mills Music hired him as a composer. Mills Music then assigned Mitchell Parish to add words to the song. Don Redman recorded the song in the same year, and by 1929 it was performed regularly at the Cotton Club. Isham Jones's 1930 rendition of the song made it popular on radio, and soon multiple acts had recorded "Stardust". Because of the song's popularity, by 1936, RCA Victor pressed a double-sided version that featured Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman on respective sides.
By 1940 the song was considered a standard, and it was later included in the Great American Songbook.
After working out the details with the band, Carmichael booked a recording session with Gennett Records for October 31, 1927. Since he had not written any sheet music for the song, he had to whistle the tune to the musicians. Carmichael played the piano, backed by Emil Seidel and his orchestra: Byron Smart (trumpet), Oscar Rossberg (trombone), Dick Kent and Gene Wood (alto saxophones), Maurice Bennett (tenor saxophone), Don Kimmel (guitar), Paul Brown (tuba), Cliff Williams (drums). The session took place at Gennett's studio in Richmond, Indiana. The recording featured a "medium fast and jazzy tempo" with no lyrics. Under the single-word title "Stardust," it was placed on the flipside of "One Night In Havana", assigned the release number 6311, and credited to Hoagy Carmichael and His Pals. Carmichael received a one-sided pressing of "Stardust" from the studio, before he left Indiana in 1928 to work for Mills Music as a composer. The first manuscript for the song was deposited at the United States Copyright Office on January 5, 1928. The sheet music featured a tune in a key of D with no indication of tempo and no lyrics. Mills Music then published different sheet music for the song on January 19, 1929, as a piano composition. Don Redman, who worked for Mills Music, often played the song. After hearing Redman's rendition of it, a company arranger suggested playing the song at a "slower tempo and in a sentimental style". Feeling it could be a potential success, Irving Mills "decided on the song having lyrics added.
Mills assigned lyricist Mitchell Parish to add the words to Carmichael's "Star Dust". Parish used as a working title "Then I Will Be Satisfied", but he accepted Redman's suggestion to re-title the song to "Stardust". Author Gene Fernett suggested Redman wrote the verse of the song, but his claim could not be supported. Parish wrote the song using Carmichael's account of how he was inspired to compose the melody, while the lyricist developed a story focused in the concept of lost love. The sheet music for the vocal composition was published as "Star Dust" on May 10, 1929 in the key of C major.
