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, Benny Carter.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.