Duke, Vernon

(born Oct. 10, 1903, Parfyanovka, near Pskov, Russia—died Jan. 16, 1969, Santa Monica, Calif., U.S.) Russian-born U.S. composer. He fled Russia at age 16, settling in Constantinople. From there he visited the U.S., where George Gershwin suggested his new name and advised him not to be afraid of “going low-brow.” He composed classical works in Europe, including Zéphyr et Flore (1925) for the Ballets Russes but returned to the U.S. in 1929. With lyricists including Edgar Harburg and Howard Dietz, he wrote music for shows (including Walk a Little Faster, 1932) and movies (including Cabin in the Sky, 1943, and Sadie Thompson, 1944). His songs include “April in Paris,” “Taking a Chance on Love,” and “Banjo Eyes.”

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica