Sharon Paige Discovers National Treasure - The Life and Songs of Ned Washington

Quick, who wrote The Nearness of You? If you guessed Hoagy Carmichael you’re half right. The answer is Ned Washington, and this is just one of the more than four hundred songs he wrote over a forty year career.
Like many lyricists of the American Song Book, Ned Washington is largely unknown to the public. Everyone knows Johnny Mercer, Oscar Hammerstein, and Sammy Cahn, but even those who are aware of the songwriters of their favorite songs, often know only the name of the composer. Dorothy Hammerstein said: “Until my husband wrote SOME-EN-CHANT-ED-EVE-NING, there was only DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH.”

Singer Sharon Paige, with assistance from her friends – Joe Regan, Jr. and a trio of fine musicians led by Keith Ingham, came to the February meeting to delight NYSMS members about Ned Washington and his wonderful songs. Public Relations Director Laura Slutsky hosted the well attended program with a good deal of humor.

Ms. Paige, who’s been singing since the age of three, performed many of the songs – all by Ned Washington – from her first CD - Love is the Thing, recorded with the Keith Ingham Sextet. Excerpts included The Nearness of You, Got the South in My Soul, Ghost of a Chance, Fire Down Below, and My Foolish Heart, written with Victor Young. My Foolish Heart was composed for the movie of the same name and starred Dana Andrews and Susan Hayward. The movie has the unique distinction of being an adaptation of a short story by J.D. Salinger, and the only film adaptation he ever allowed.

Between songs, Paige shared interesting details of Ned Washington’s life and career, acknowledging that the research had been compiled by Joe Regan, who obviously enjoyed the undertaking. The lyricist was said to be a “seeker” who infused his songs with “hope and faith,” as in “If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme.” Many of his songs have the common theme of “yearning and returning.” Apparently, Washington did yearn for his childhood home - Scranton, Pennsylvania - returning often. He was a strong proponent of giving back, and participated in many fundraisers.

Ned Washington’s lyrics were first heard in the Earl Carroll Vanities of 1929. Soon he was invited to Hollywood, where he wrote his first major hit Singin’ in the Bathtub for a Warner Brothers musical The Show of Shows. But Warner didn’t renew his contract, and he returned to New York, collaborating on several scores for Broadway. In 1934 MGM called, and this time he moved to Hollywood for good.

Having written themes for forty Hollywood films, Washington received twelve nominations, scoring three Oscars, two for Pinocchio, the other for High Noon. Among his frequent writing partners were Victor Young, Dimitri Tiomkin, Max Steiner, and Jimmy McHugh. Victor Young’s Stella by Starlight, the theme of The Univited, was recorded by a number of bands and became popular. As with the beautiful theme from Laura (David Raksin and Johnny Mercer), it became an even bigger hit after Ned Washington added haunting lyrics to the already haunting music.

Sharon Paige’s journey to an album of Ned Washington songs and her appearance at NYSMS began at Trudi Mann’s Fabulous Open Mic for singers. Resuming a career in music, dormant during years of raising a child, obtaining a college degree, and teaching, she returned to singing which had always been a passion. Joe Regan was at Trudi’s the night that Sharon Paige was performing A Woman’s Intuition. Impressed by how she treated the old Lee Wiley number, he suggested that she explore other songs in the Washington catalog. Taking his advice, she approached Keith Ingham, who was quite enthusiastic. Paige and Ingham worked together to craft a superb collection, arranged by Ingham, and backed by an exceptional group of musicians.

NYSMS members may have found it hard to believe that Ms. Paige had been absent from the music scene for years. She demonstrated a strong stage presence, accessibility, and a great rapport with her audience. Sharon Paige has a sweet, warm tone which wraps gently around the lyrics of the song. Although admitting that many of the songs had been unfamiliar to her, Paige performed them as if they had always been part of her repertoire. Every lyric could be understood, including lovely verses unheard for far too long.

Ms. Paige couldn’t have asked for a better group of musicians than Keith Ingham on piano, Murray Wall on bass, and Arnie Wise on drums. The trio performed a crowd pleasing, nostalgic medley of Ned Washington’s hits beginning with When You Wish Upon a Star, with each musician playing an impressive solo. The meeting ended with an interesting Q & A in which Ned Washington’s daughter Catharine Hinen, her publisher Helene Blue, and granddaughter Jenny Davidson participated. The standing room only audience could not have asked for a more enjoyable afternoon.