About Mel Henke
Lived 1915 – 1979 (aged 63). Mel Henke was an American musician, pianist and bandleader.
Mel Henke (August 4, 1915 – March 31, 1979) was an American jazz pianist, Chicago bandleader, composer, arranger and jingle writer. Henke studied at the Chicago College of Music, then played with Chicago groups with Mitch Todd, Frank Snyder, Stephen Leonard and others. Henke recorded many jazz standards with his own arrangements, including a 1946 piano solo on Bix Beiderbecke's 1928 "In a Mist". His best-known jingles included the Ajax cleanser "stronger than dirt" jingle, for Colgate-Palmolive, and "See the USA in Your Chevrolet" jingle for Chevrolet.
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Important facts
People in Mel Henke's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Mel Henke's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Mel Henke?
American musician
When was Mel Henke born?
Mel Henke was born on 4 August 1915 in Chicago.
When did Mel Henke die?
Mel Henke died on 1 April 1979 in California.
What was Mel Henke's occupation?
Mel Henke was a musician, pianist and bandleader.
What nationality was Mel Henke?
Mel Henke was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mel Henke. https://biography.guide/mel-henke/
MLA: "Mel Henke." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mel-henke/.
Chicago: "Mel Henke." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mel-henke/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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