Here's another Hoagy song! Hoagy Charmichael is one of my favorite songwriters. Some others he's responsible for include “Georgia On My Mind,” “Stardust,” “Skylark,” “Lazybones,” “Lazy River,” and many more. Hoagy Charmichael wrote “Rockin' Chair” in 1929. He recorded it numerous times, and the first version was a test recording for Victor Records. Louis Armstrong and Hoagy recorded the song again in December 1929 at Okeh Studios, this time featuring their call-and-response vocal patter as “father and son.” (Louis would perform the song for many years with his All Stars, with Jack Teagarden as the “son” co-vocalist.)

In September 1930 Hoagy recorded the song with his orchestra featuring Bix Beiderbecke on cornet. He also recorded the song again in 1956. In 1932 Mildred Bailey adopted the song, and it became her signature song. “Rockin Chair” has an unusual structure for a 32 measure song. Instead of the typical AABA form, the song has a somewhat unique ABCA form. Other famous versions were recorded by Frank Sinatra in the 1950's; Harry James in 1965 and Maria Muldaur recorded the song, with Hoagy providing “banter,” in 1976.