Matt Malneck studied violin in Denver, Colorado, as a youngster before joining the Paul Whiteman Orchestra for an 11-year stint during which time he also proved his talent as an arranger. He was instrumental in bringing in Harry Barris to form the popular vocal trio known as the Rhythm Boys with Al Rinker and Bing Crosby. In 1935 he established his own successful big band which backed singers as diverse as Mildred Bailey, Al Jolson, and Julie London.

However, Malneck is best remembered for the songs he composed. “I’m Through with Love” was written with Fud Livingston and Gus Kahn in 1931 and recently recorded by Diana Krall. “Park Avenue Fantasy,” which he wrote with Frank Signorelli in 1931 for the Whiteman band, became “Stairway to the Stars” in 1935 with Mitchell Parish’s lyrics and hit the charts when Glenn Miller recorded it in 1939. It’s been picked up by numerous musicians such as The Ink Spots, Erroll Garner, Teddy Edwards, and Dinah Washington. With Signorelli and Kahn he wrote the popular “I’ll Never Be the Same” which Billie Holiday recorded in 1937. He and Johnny Mercer collaborated on three seldom-heard tunes, “Eeny Meeny Miney Mo” (which Billie Holliday recorded), “If You Were Mine,” and “Pardon My Southern Accent,” but they had a hit with “Goody Goody” which Helen Ward sang with the Benny Goodman orchestra in 1936. With Frank Loesser he wrote the obscure “I Go for That” and “Hawaii Sang Me to Sleep” which appeared in a 1939 Hollywood musical called Hawaiian Nights.

In the ‘50s Malneck scored two important films: 1958’s Witness for the Prosecution and 1959’s Some Like It Hot in which Marilyn Monroe sang his 1931 composition “I’m Through with Love.”

- Sandra Burlingame