New York, NY (April 2, 2018) – Primary Wave Music Publishing, one of the leading U.S. independent music publishing companies, announced today their world-wide administration deal with Van Heusen Music Corporation for its rights in the Jimmy Van Heusen catalog of music. As part of the agreement, Primary Wave Music Publishing will now represent the music publishing catalog of the Emmy and Academy Award winning composer. Songs included in this deal are amongst Van Heusen’s most memorable co-writes such as “My Kind of Town (Chicago),” “Come Fly With Me,” and the Emmy Award winning, “Love and Marriage.”
“The team and I are honored to welcome the iconic catalog of Jimmy Van Heusen into the Primary Wave family,” says Justin Shukat, President, Primary Wave Music Publishing. Marty Silverstone, Senior Vice President, Primary Wave Music Publishing adds, “We’re excited to get to work on new synch opportunities and other creative re-imaginations of these classic songs that helped shape the Great American Songbook.”
Jimmy Van Heusen was inarguably one of the most accomplished songwriters in history. Claiming four Academy Awards and one Emmy Award among his credits he also wrote more songs recorded by his long-time friend Frank Sinatra than any other composer. Despite his many accolades, he personally felt one of his biggest honors was being elected by his peers as one of the original inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971. Jimmy was born Edward Chester Babcock in 1913 in Syracuse, NY. He didn’t become James Van Heusen until 1928 while working as a DJ. A childhood friend suggested a stage name taking the “Van Heusen” after seeing a billboard for Van Heusen Collars and the name “James” from his friend’s favorite cousin. After moving to New York, Jimmy began working at Tin Pan Alley and in 1939, saw his first big hit with “Darn That Dream,” a song written for Benny Goodman. Over the course of the year, Jimmy went on to publish nearly 60 songs. Most of his songs were written with two lyricist partners. He teamed up with Johnny Burke and began writing songs for Paramount Pictures in 1940. He would continue to write with Burke until 1953 when Burke’s health began to decline. Jimmy then joined forces with Sammy Cahn. He and Cahn would go on to win three Oscars together and would write many songs for some of the most successful Frank Sinatra albums. Over the course of his career, Jimmy Van Heusen composed over 800 songs and was nominated for fourteen Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, an Emmy and a Grammy. He passed away in February of 1990.