“Out Of Nowhere” is a tune by American composer Johnny Green with lyrics by Edward Heyman.
Green dedicated this song to his first wife Carol who persuaded him to abandon his financial career in order to pursue his musical career. Bing Crosby was the first to record this tune in 1931 making it his very first hit as a solo artist. Coleman Hawkins joined by guitarist Django Reinhardt and Benny Carter did a rendition of this tune in 1937. Hawkins’ solo on this tune was so well done that jazz historian Chris Tyle had this to say:
“The group’s rendition of “Out of Nowhere” is great from the start, with an intro by Reinhardt. Carter (on trumpet) plays the first chorus, punctuated by fills from Django. The next two choruses are Hawkins at his best. It’s no wonder that tenor saxophonists shied away from recording numbers Hawkins had done; in fact, there wouldn’t be another tenor player to attempt this tune until Don Byas in 1945.”
“Out Of Nowhere” was also featured in the 1931 Paramount western comedy “Dude Ranch”.
This tune is most commonly played in the key of G major.