Born as Edward Chester Babcock in Syracuse, New York. Van Heusen (he took his name from the shirt manufacturer) began writing songs for films in 1940, first in partnership with Johnny Burke and then, from 1954, Sammy Cahn. Oscar-winning compositions include Swinging on a Star from Going My Way (1944) and High Hopes from A Hole in the Head (1959). He wrote 76 tunes recorded by Frank Sinatra (more than any other composer) and the songs for six of the seven Crosby-Hope "Road" pictures.