Al Trace; Bandleader Recorded the Hit ‘Mairzy Doats’

Al Trace, 92, bandleader and songwriter who recorded the popular hit “Mairzy Doats” in 1943. In the 1930s and 1940s, Trace led a band called Shuffle Rhythm, which was heard on national radio, and composed songs recorded by such performers as Frank Sinatra and the Andrews Sisters. He wrote the hits “You Call Everybody Darling” and “If I Knew You Were Coming I’d’ve Baked a Cake.” He did not write “Mairzy Doats,” but his version appeared on the Lucky Strike Hit Parade for 20 weeks and popularized the nonsense ditty which began: “Mairzy doats and dozie doats and little lambsy divey.” On Tuesday in Phoenix after a stroke.