They were so familiar with each other that one knew the other’s opinions by heart, could easily finish the other’s sentence, and they would fall into occasional squabbles only to return to a strong appreciation for the other. Talking to them was like talking to a married couple who had been together for decades.
They also wrote “Mona Lisa,” “Tammy,” “To Each His Own” and “Buttons and Bows.” But these guys wrote standards such as “Silver Bells,” which seemed to have existed forever, like a folk song.
Speaking to songwriters of standards is always a thrill, as their song is everywhere at once and known throughout the world.
