Prolific American pop composer James Van Heusen produced an extraordinary number of hit songs from the late '30s through the 1960s, particularly for movie musicals. Born Edward Chester Babcock in Syracuse, NY, Van Heusen began writing music while a high school student there. It was also during this time that he adopted the last name of Van Heusen to use as his on-air name during a local radio show. After graduating from high school, he went on to study at the Cazenovia Seminary and then Syracuse University, where he wrote for the school musicals. While at Syracuse, Van Heusen became friends with a classmate, %Jerry Arlen, the younger brother of pop composer Harold Arlen.
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