Elisse Boyd

Elisse Boyd (born Agnes Elisse Corbett) (1910–1979) was a composer. She married William R. Boyd III and changed her name to Elisse Boyd. Early life Agnes Elisse Corbett was born in 1910 in Peducah, Kentucky. Her father was Hal Corbett, who was a friend of fellow Kentuckians Alben W. Barkley (one of the vice presidents under President Truman) and humorist and columnist Irvin Cobb. Her father was claimed to have been one of the three men who were the inspiration for Irvin Cobb’s composite character of Judge Priest. Career Boyd began song writing with entering a Fort Worth, Texas contest for best theme song. She won in the competition sponsored by Casa Mañana Theater with the song “Dancing in the Moonlight”, which was used for a 1937 performance at the theater. With their collaboration, they had composed the song “Unbelievable” (1947). where the song was sung by June Carroll. Eartha Kitt, who was a cast member of New Face of 1952, would later sing Boyd’s song “Thursday Child” in 1957. With “Guess Who I Saw Today”, the song would go onto become a hit song with multiple artists singing the cover. There were musical performances of the cover by Eydie Gormé, Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan