Van Heusen, James (1913–1990)

US composer. He wrote scores for many Bing Crosby films with such hit songs as ‘It's Always You’ (1941) and ‘Swinging on a Star’ (1944). With lyricist Sammy Cahn he wrote many popular songs of the 1950s for film and television, including ‘High Hopes’ (1959), and wrote the musical, Skyscraper (1965).

Van Heusen was born in Syracuse, New York. His first popular songs were performed and recorded in the 1930s. He retired in the 1970s.