Matt Dennis

Matthew Loveland Dennis was an Irish tenor, and the family was in vaudeville, so he was exposed to music early. After his father's death when Dennis was 6 years old, his mother and he went to live with her parents in northern California. When he was able to sit on a stool, they began teaching him to play piano. His mother sang with local dance bands, and he usually accompanied her to the performances. He attended Tamalpais High School.

Career In 1933 he joined Horace Heidt's orchestra

After four years in the United States Air Force in World War II, Dennis returned to music writing and arranging, getting a boost from his old friend Dick Haymes, who hired him to be the music director for his radio program. With lyricist Tom Adair he wrote songs for Haymes' program.

Dennis made six albums, which were out of print for many years; however, his 1953 song "Angel Eyes" (with lyricist Earl Brent) has become a frequently recorded jazz standard; less frequently recorded, but notably by Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins is "Will You Still Be Mine". Pianist Dave Brubeck and his quartet recorded an entire album of Dennis's compositions, released as Angel Eyes in 1965.

In 2012, Jasmine Records re-released four of Dennis' records as "Welcome Matt". The collection included "Plays and Sings Matt Dennis", a 1958 live performance by Dennis' piano trio, of twelve tunes that Dennis had co-authored.

Personal life and death Dennis was married to Virginia Maxey, who sang with big bands. They had three children.

Songs with music by Matt Dennis "Angel Eyes" "Violets for Your Furs" "Will You Still Be Mine"