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 trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-toned trombo ...

and His Orchestra, and later for

Patti Page Clara Ann Fowler (November 8, 1927 – January 1, 2013), known professionally as Patti Page, was an American singer and actress. Primarily known for pop and country music, she was the top-charting female vocalist and best-selling female ar ...

(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 written by Charles Dickens and first published in 1844, one year after ''A Christmas Carol''. It is th ...

(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