Don Raye

American vaudevillian and songwriter, b. March 16, 1909 in Washington, DC – d. Jan. 29, 1985 in Encino, CA.

Started his career as a dancer, going on to win the "Virginia State Dancing Championship." Wilhoite started work in vaudeville as a "song and dance man" often writing his own songs for his act, where he changed his name to Don Raye.

In 1935 he started work as a songwriter, collaborating with numerous composers, most notably, [a=Gene DePaul]. Other collaborators included [a=Hughie Prince], [a=Patricia Johnston], [a=Harry James], [a=Freddie Slack], [a=Artie Shaw], [a=Charlie Shavers] and [a=Benny Carter].

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.