"Once in a While" is a popular

Popular music

Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...

 song

Song

In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...

, written by Michael Edwards

Michael Edwards (American composer)

Michael Edwards was an American composer and musician, known for composing the 1937 hit "Once in a While". He was also a classical violinist, organist and music arranger....

 with lyrics by Bud Green

Bud Green

Bud Green was an Austrian-born songwriter. Bud Green grew up in Harlem at 108th & Madison Ave. at the turn of the century, the eldest of seven. He dropped out of elementary school to sell newspapers and help the family...

. The song was published in 1937.

The song is a much-recorded standard

Standard (music)

In music, a standard is a tune or song of established popularity.-See also:* Blues standard* Jazz standard* Pop standard* Great American Songbook-Further reading:* Greatest Rock Standards, published by Hal Leonard ISBN 0793588391...

. Tommy Dorsey's recording in 1937 went to number one in the United States. One of the best-known recordings was made by Patti Page

Patti Page

Clara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...

 in 1952.{MERCURY 5867} The song was revived in doo-wop style by the Chimes

The Chimes (US band)

The Chimes were an American doo wop group from Brooklyn.The group came together under the direction of lead singer Lenny Cocco in the mid 1950s. Their first single was a version of Tommy Dorsey's "Once in a While", released on Tag Records. The song became a hit in the U.S., peaking at #11 on the...

 in 1960, and their version peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 in January 1961.

Other recordings

Joe Bushkin

Joe Bushkin

Joe Bushkin was an American jazz pianist.He began his career by playing trumpet and piano with New York City dance bands. He joined Bunny Berigan's band in 1935, then left to join Muggsy Spanier's Ragtime Band in 1939. From the late 1930s through to the late 1940s he also worked with Eddie Condon...

 included the song on his 1950s album After Hours with Joe Bushkin

After Hours with Joe Bushkin

After Hours with Joe Bushkin is an ten-inch album released by Joe Bushkin in 1951 on Columbia CL 6201. It was also released as a seven-inch box set of four ep's on Columbia B-290.-Personnel:* Buck Clayton – trumpet...

Al Bishop & The Cold Fingers recorded the song in Oslo

Oslo

Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...

 on January 16, 1967. It was released on the single HMV 45-AL 6143.

In 1968, Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...

 recorded this song on her "30 by Ella" album.

UK singer Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...

 released a single of the song in 1984 in support of her hit album Screen Gems

Screen Gems (album)

Screen Gems is a 1984 album by Elkie Brooks comprising Brooks' interpretations of pop standards; the album's title references all of the selections being introduced or prominently featured in mid-20th century movie releases.-Background:...

.

In 2011, Eddie Vedder

Eddie Vedder

Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...

 recorded the song for his "Ukulele Songs

Ukulele Songs

Ukulele Songs is the second solo studio album by American singer and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. It was released on May 31, 2011. The album is composed of original songs and covers.-Track listing:-Cover art:...

" album.