Al Trace was
a big-band songwriter and band leader who
popularized the hit song 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.
Trace also 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." 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 often wrote under the pseudonym
Clem Watts.