Michael Edwards (1893–1962) was an American composer and musician, known for composing the 1937 hit " Once in a While". He was also a classical violinist, organist and music arranger.Once in a While
at ''jazzstandards.com'' – retrieved on May 21, 2009 Edwards's most famous composition, "Once in a While", became a number one hit for

Tommy Dorsey Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombone, trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-to ...

and His Orchestra, and later for

Patti Page Clara Ann Fowler (November 8, 1927 – January 1, 2013), better known by her stage name Patti Page, was an American singer. Primarily known for Pop music, pop and Country music, country music, she was the top-charting female vocalist and b ...

(1957) and

The Chimes ''The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In'', commonly referred to as ''The Chimes'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in 1844, one year after ''A Christmas Carol''. It is the second ...

(1961). The song is now considered a jazz standard. None of Edwards's other songs achieved the popularity of "Once in a While", and he has been called "a perfect example of a one-hit composer".David A. Jasen: ''Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song''. Taylor & Francis, 2003. . p.204

Notes

1893 births 1962 deaths American male composers 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians {{US-composer-19thC-stub