"Moonlight Bay" is a
popularsong. It is commonly referred to as "On Moonlight Bay". The lyrics were written by
Edward Madden, the music by
Percy Wenrich, and was published in 1912. It is often sung in a
barbershop quartet style. Early successful recordings in 1912 were by the
American Quartet and by Dolly Connolly.[1]
Notable covers
Glenn Miller and his Orchestra recorded the song on March 22, 1937,[2] with a special swing arrangement by Miller.
The song was featured the film Tin Pan Alley (1940), where it was sung by
Alice Faye. Faye also included the song in her 1962 album Alice Faye Sings Her Greatest Movie Hits.[3]
The song, sung in barbershop quartet style, features in the first
Daffy Duck cartoon, Porky's Duck Hunt (1937).
Porky Pig repeatedly tries to sing the song in the 1942 cartoon My Favorite Duck.
The song was featured in the musical film On Moonlight Bay (1951) and gave the film its title; it was sung by
Doris Day and
Gordon MacRae. Day also recorded the song commercially, and it appeared on her 1951 album On Moonlight Bay, featuring songs from the film.
A duet performance by
Bing Crosby and
Gary Crosby was recorded on March 22, 1951,[5] and reached No. 14 in the Billboard charts in 1951.[6]