Exploring the Musical Legacy of Bernice Petkere
Bernice Petkere (1901–2000), celebrated as the "Queen of Tin Pan Alley" by Irving Berlin, was a pivotal figure in American songwriting, especially during the 1930s. Her work has been widely recognized and recorded by leading jazz and pop artists across generations. Petkere began as a child performer in vaudeville—part of the act "Baby Dolls"—and later made her mark as a staff pianist, radio theme composer, and prolific songwriter. She was the rare female composer to gain major recognition during Tin Pan Alley’s golden years, with a career that spanned live performance, radio, and Hollywood film. Her songs have remained in the jazz repertoire, attracting interpretations by luminaries such as Kurt Elling, Tony Bennett, Doris Day, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, Queen Latifah, and more.
Notable Compositions by Bernice Petkere
Petkere's first published song, "Starlight (Help Me Find The One I Love)" (1931), gained notable attention after being recorded by Bing Crosby. "Lullaby of the Leaves", one of her most haunting and successful numbers, became a jazz standard and has been interpreted instrumentally and vocally by numerous artists. Perhaps her best-known song, "Close Your Eyes" (1933), stands out for its interplay between major and minor chords and has been recorded by Ruth Etting, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, and Peggy Lee, among many others. Other notable compositions include "The Lady I Love", "My River Home", "By a Rippling Stream", "Stay Out of My Dreams", "A Mile a Minute", and "It's All So New to Me", which was featured in the Joan Crawford film The Ice Follies of 1939 (MGM, 1939).