Michael Edwards was an American composer, violinist, organist, and arranger active during the swing era. Born in 1893, he is remembered almost entirely for one song, Once in a While, a 1937 composition that became a major hit for Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra and went on to achieve lasting status as a jazz standard. The song was later revived by Patti Page in 1957 and doo-wop group The Chimes in 1961, demonstrating its appeal across musical eras and styles. Little is documented about Edwards's other compositions or the full scope of his catalog, and none of his remaining work achieved comparable recognition. His background as a classically trained violinist and arranger placed him within the broader Tin Pan Alley tradition of the 1930s, where songwriters crafted accessible melodies for the popular and dance band markets. Edwards died in 1962.
