Biography
Hal Derwin, also known as Derwyn, remains chiefly associated with his upbeat signature tune “Derwin’s Melody,” yet his strongest commercial period unfolded on the West Coast big-band circuit of the 1940s. Leading the Hal Derwin Orchestra—which he assembled with saxophonist Freddy Large, an alumnus of both Jan Garber’s and Glen Gray’s ensembles—he secured a Capitol contract and maintained a six-year run at the Biltmore Bowl in Los Angeles, performances carried each evening on NBC Radio.
Derwin stayed visible as a vocalist and part-time guitarist into the early 1950s, contributing to Artie Shaw’s “That’s For Me” and the duet “Take Me Back” with Martha Tilton. Once he stepped away from performing, he joined Capitol’s A&R staff and later stated that he had supplied dubbed vocals for numerous films whose on-screen performers lacked adequate singing ability.
Derwin stayed visible as a vocalist and part-time guitarist into the early 1950s, contributing to Artie Shaw’s “That’s For Me” and the duet “Take Me Back” with Martha Tilton. Once he stepped away from performing, he joined Capitol’s A&R staff and later stated that he had supplied dubbed vocals for numerous films whose on-screen performers lacked adequate singing ability.