Joe Burke was born in
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. It was during this time that he started writing songs for publication. His first composition, "Down Honolulu Way", written with
Earl Burtnett, was successful in 1916. In 1925, with lyricist
Benny Davis, he wrote "
Oh How I Miss You Tonight", recorded by
Ben Selvin among others; and later, also with Davis, wrote "
Carolina Moon", a hit for both Selvin and
Gene Austin. As an actor, Burke appeared in the 1929 film
The Show of Shows, and remained in Hollywood as a film score composer for several years. Working in
Hollywood with lyricist
Al Dubin, Burke wrote "Tiptoe Through the Tulips", recorded most successfully by
Nick Lucas, and originally written for the
musical Gold Diggers of Broadway, as was "
Painting the Clouds with Sunshine". Burke also collaborated with Dubin to write the Villanova University Alma Mater. However, when their song "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" was rejected by the film studio, Burke returned to
New York City; the song became a hit for both Selvin and
Nat Shilkret. During the mid-1930s, Burke wrote a string of hit songs with lyricist
Edgar Leslie, including "On Treasure Island", "A Little Bit Independent", "In a Little Gypsy Tea Room", "
Moon Over Miami", and "
It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane", a 1937 hit for
Guy Lombardo. He continued to work with both Leslie and Dubin, but had his final success in 1948, writing
Perry Como's hit "
Rambling Rose" with lyricist
Joseph McCarthy. Burke died at his home in
Upper Darby, Pennsylvania in 1950, at the age of 66. He was posthumously inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Other artists who have recorded his songs include
Dean Martin,
Kate Smith,
Bing Crosby,
Rosemary Clooney,
Ray Charles,
Fats Waller,
Rudy Vallee,
Doris Day,
Frank Sinatra,
Ricky Nelson,
Twiggy,
Chet Atkins,
Eydie Gorme, and
Tiny Tim. == Selected works ==