Al Trace - Composer and Band Leader

Al Trace was a big-band songwriter and band leader who made popular the ditty "Mairzy Doats" in 1943.

In the 1930's and 1940's, Mr. Trace led a band called Shuffle Rhythm that was heard nationwide on radio. He composed songs that were later recorded by Frank Sinatra, the Andrews Sisters and others.

In 1943, he had a hit singing a number he didn't write, "Mairzy Doats," a string of near-nonsense commentary on livestock eating habits that begins: "Mairzy doats and dozie doats and little lambsy divey." (The song was written by Milton Drake, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston.)

Mr. Trace's version was on the Lucky Strike Hit Parade for 20 weeks and brought him to Hollywood's attention. He appeared in several of Charlie Starrett's Durango Kid movies in the 1940's, providing music and appearing in some as a sheriff.

He wrote and collaborated on several songs popular in the 1940's and 1950's including, "You Call Everybody Darling," "If I Knew You Were Coming I'd've Baked a Cake" and "Brush Those Tears From Your Eyes."

Mr. Trace moved to Arizona in the 1970's and continued to write songs until he passed away at the age of 92 in 1993. He wrote under the pseudonym Clem Watts.

In this clip, Mairzy Doats is sung by the Four King Sisters.