Stairway to the Stars

For the Australian television series, see Stairway to the Stars (TV series). For the album by Miki Yamanaka, see Stairway to the Stars (album). For the Blue Öyster Cult song, see Blue Öyster Cult (album). For the Caretaker album, see A Stairway to the Stars.

"Stairway to the Stars"
Song
Released	1939 (1939) by Robbins Music Corp.
Songwriters	Matty Malneck, Frank Signorelli, Mitchell Parish

"Stairway to the Stars" is a popular song composed by Matty Malneck and Frank Signorelli,^[1] with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. It was based on a theme from Malneck and Signorelli's 1934 instrumental piece, "Park Avenue Fantasy."^[2]

Hit recordings in 1939 were by Glenn Miller, Kay Kyser, Jimmy Dorsey and by Al Donohue.^[3] The Glenn Miller recording on RCA Bluebird reached no. 1 on the Your Hit Parade chart.

Notable recordings

• Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, vocals by Ray Eberle (May 9, 1939)^[4]
• Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra (June 29, 1939)^[5]
• The Ink Spots – 1939 NBC radio Broadcast (July 12, 1939)
• Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra, vocals by Bob Eberly (1939)^[6]
• Kay Kyser and his Orchestra, vocals by Harry Babbitt (1939)^[7]
• Al Donahue and his Orchestra, vocals by Paula Kelly (1939)^[8]
• Dinah Washington with Chubby Jackson's Orchestra (1947)^[9]
• Buddy DeFranco quartet – New York (1953)
• Bud Powell – Piano Interpretations by Bud Powell (1956)^[10]
• Sarah Vaughan – At Mister Kelly's (1957)^[11]
• Lee Konitz – Very Cool (1957)^[12]
• Ella Fitzgerald – Hello, Love (1960)^[13]
• Johnny Mathis – I'll Buy You a Star (1961)^[14]
• Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery – Bags Meets Wes! (1962)^[15]
• Stan Kenton – Adventures In Jazz (1962)^[16]
• Bill Evans – Moon Beams (1962)^[17]
• Dexter Gordon – Our Man in Paris (1963)^[18]
• Johnny Hartman – I Just Dropped by to Say Hello (1964)^[19]
• Benny Goodman – An Album of Swing Classics (1967)^[20]
• Carmen Cavallaro – Decca - recorded in 1947, relaeased as a reissue in (1973)^[21]
• Natalie Cole – Don't Look Back (1980)^[22]
• Mel Tormé – An Evening with Mel Tormé (1994)^[23]
• Ian Shaw – The Abbey Road Sessions (2011)^[24]

Notable uses

• Major theme in the motion picture Some Like It Hot, directed by Billy Wilder.

References

1. Little, Paul (June 27, 1957). "Needle in the Groove". Illinois, Arlington Heights. Arlington Heights Herald. p. 36. Retrieved November 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
2. MusicProf78 (February 25, 2012). "1934 Paul Whiteman - Park Avenue Fantasy (aka Stairway To The Stars)". YouTube. Google. Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
3. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 584. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
4. "www.discogs.com". www.discogs.com. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
5. "www.discogs.com". www.discogs.com. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
6. "www.discogs.com". Retrieved August 20, 2025.
7. "www.discogs.com". www.discogs.com. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
8. "www.discogs.com". Retrieved August 22, 2025.
9. "www.discogs.com". Retrieved August 23, 2025.
10. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
11. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
12. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
13. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
14. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
15. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
16. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
17. "Moon Beams". Discogs. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
18. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
19. "I Just Dropped by to Say Hello". AllMusic.com. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
20. "www.discogs.com". Retrieved August 24, 2025.
21. "www.discogs.com". Retrieved August 23, 2025.
22. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
23. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
24. "www.discogs.com". www.discogs.com. Retrieved August 18, 2025.