I 'm Beginning to See the Light - wikipedia I 'm Beginning to See the Light For the album by David Grisman and Martin Taylor, see I 'm Beginning to See the Light ( album ). `` I 'm Beginning to See the Light '' is a popular song and jazz standard, written by Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James, and published in 1944. Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny recorded a version in 1945, that was on the pop song hits list for six weeks in 1945, reaching # 5. A competing 1945 recording by Harry James and his Orchestra, with lead vocal by Kitty Kallen reached # 1 for two weeks in January of that year. James ' version of the song reached # 7 on Billboard 's Second Annual High School Survey in 1945. Duke Ellington also released in 1945 a version, vocal by Joya Sherrill, which reached the top ten. Ellington 's inspiration for this song was his recent initiation into Freemasonry. He was a member of Social Lodge No. 1 of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, Prince Hall Affiliation. Notable recordings Rosemary Clooney -- Out of This World ( 2000 ) Bobby Darin ( 1962 ) Frank Sinatra Johnnie Ray ( 1958 ) Connie Francis ( 1958 ) Oscar Alemán ( 1946 ) Billy Eckstine recorded the song many times : with Billy May, with Quincy Jones, with Bobby Tucker and with Gil Askey. In 1986 Australian recording artist Kate Ceberano recorded a version for her album Kate Ceberano and her Septet. Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra. Vocal : Joya Sherrill Recorded in New York City on December 1, 1944. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalogue number 20 - 1618 Ella and Basie !, a 1963 Verve release with arrangements by Quincy Jones. Clare Fischer -- Songs for Rainy Day Lovers ( 1967 ) Peggy Lee -- Things Are Swingin ' ( 1958 ) Capitol Records ST 1049 US Peggy Lee -- Spotlight on Peggy Lee ( 1995 ) Gerry Mulligan - Gerry Mulligan with Chet Baker ( 1955 ) Sutton Foster recorded a version for her album Wish The Hi - Lo 's -- A Musical Thrill ( 2006 ) The Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny & Ella Fitzgerald Chelsea Krombach performed the song for her debut album Look for the Silver Lining The SuperJazz Big Band of Birmingham, Alabama, recorded the song on the CD UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis Michael Bublé Al Jarreau in his album `` Accentuate the Positive '' Kelly Rowland Joe Jackson recorded a cover of the song for his Duke Ellington tribute album, `` The Duke ''. Royce Campbell -- Get Happy ( 2007 ) Mel Tormé -- `` At the Crescendo '' Karen Souza - Velvet Vault ( 2017 ) References Jump up ^ Gilliland, John ( 1994 ). Pop Chronicles the 40s : The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s ( audiobook ). ISBN 978 - 1 - 55935 - 147 - 8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 1, side B. Jump up ^ Smith, Kathleen E.R. God Bless America : Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 167. ISBN 0 - 8131 - 2256 - 2. Jump up ^ `` I 'm Beginning to See the Light '' at Jazz Standards Jump up ^ RCA Victor Records in the 20 - 1500 to 20 - 1999 series The Ink Spots Bill Kenny Charlie Fuqua Deek Watson Hoppy Jones Jerry Daniels Bernie Mackey Cliff Givens Billy Bowen Huey Long Herb Kenny Singles `` If I Did n't Care '' `` My Prayer '' `` Memories of You '' `` I 'm Gettin ' Sentimental Over You '' `` When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano '' `` Whispering Grass ( Do n't Tell the Trees ) '' `` Maybe '' `` We Three ( My Echo, My Shadow and Me ) '' `` Java Jive '' `` Until the Real Thing Comes Along '' `` Do n't Get Around Much Anymore '' `` I Ca n't Stand Losing You '' `` Cow Cow Boogie ( Cuma - Ti - Yi - Yi - Ay ) '' `` A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening '' `` I 'll Get By ( As Long as I Have You ) '' `` I 'm Making Believe '' `` Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall '' `` I 'm Beginning to See the Light '' `` The Gypsy '' `` Prisoner of Love '' `` To Each His Own '' `` The Best Things in Life Are Free '' `` You 're Breaking My Heart '' `` Echoes '' `` If '' `` It Is No Secret '' ( Bill Kenny solo ) `` Trying '' Related topics The Great American Broadcast Pardon My Sarong The Brown Dots The Four Tunes The Bill Kenny Show Book : The Ink Spots Duke Ellington Studio albums The Blanton -- Webster Band Never No Lament : The Blanton - Webster Band Braggin ' in Brass : The Immortal 1938 Year Liberian Suite Great Times ! Masterpieces by Ellington Ellington Uptown The Duke Plays Ellington Ellington ' 55 Dance to the Duke ! Ellington Showcase Historically Speaking Duke Ellington Presents... The Complete Porgy and Bess A Drum Is a Woman Studio Sessions, Chicago 1956 Such Sweet Thunder Ellington Indigos Black, Brown and Beige Duke Ellington at the Bal Masque The Cosmic Scene Happy Reunion Jazz Party Back to Back Side by Side Anatomy of a Murder Festival Session Blues in Orbit The Nutcracker Suite Piano in the Background Swinging Suites by Edward E. and Edward G. Unknown Session Piano in the Foreground The Great Summit : The Master Takes Paris Blues First Time ! The Count Meets the Duke Duke Ellington & John Coltrane Featuring Paul Gonsalves Studio Sessions 1957 & 1962 Midnight in Paris Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins Studio Sessions, New York 1962 Money Jungle Afro - Bossa The Symphonic Ellington Duke Ellington 's Jazz Violin Session Studio Sessions New York 1963 My People Ellington ' 65 Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins Ellington ' 66 Concert in the Virgin Islands The Popular Duke Ellington The Far East Suite The Jaywalker Studio Sessions, 1957, 1965, 1966, 1967, San Francisco, Chicago, New York... And His Mother Called Him Bill Second Sacred Concert Studio Sessions New York, 1968 Latin American Suite The Pianist New Orleans Suite Orchestral Works The Suites, New York 1968 & 1970 The Intimacy of the Blues The Afro - Eurasian Eclipse Studio Sessions New York & Chicago, 1965, 1966 & 1971 The Intimate Ellington The Ellington Suites This One 's for Blanton ! Up in Duke 's Workshop Duke 's Big 4 Mood Ellington Live albums Duke Ellington at Fargo, 1940 Live The Carnegie Hall Concerts : January 1943 The Carnegie Hall Concerts : December 1944 The Carnegie Hall Concerts : January 1946 The Carnegie Hall Concerts : December 1947 Ellington at Newport Dance Concerts, California 1958 Dance Dates, California 1958 Newport 1958 Jazz at the Plaza Vol. II Duke Ellington at the Alhambra Live at the Blue Note The Great Paris Concert A Concert of Sacred Music In the Uncommon Market Soul Call Yale Concert 70th Birthday Concert Togo Brava Suite Live at the Whitney Third Sacred Concert Eastbourne Performance Collaborations with Alice Babs Serenade to Sweden with Count Basie First Time ! The Count Meets the Duke with Teresa Brewer It Do n't Mean a Thing If It Ai n't Got That Swing with Rosemary Clooney Blue Rose with John Coltrane Duke Ellington & John Coltrane with Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book Ella at Duke 's Place The Stockholm Concert, 1966 Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur with Coleman Hawkins Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins with Frank Sinatra Francis A. & Edward K. Compositions `` African Flower '' `` All Too Soon '' `` Azure '' `` Black and Tan Fantasy '' `` Black, Brown and Beige '' `` C Jam Blues '' `` Cotton Tail '' `` Day Dream '' `` Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue '' `` Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me '' `` Do n't Get Around Much Anymore '' `` Drop Me Off in Harlem '' `` Echoes of Harlem '' `` Everything but You '' `` I Ai n't Got Nothin ' but the Blues '' `` I Did n't Know About You '' `` I Got It Bad ( and That Ai n't Good ) '' `` I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart '' `` I 'm Beginning to See the Light '' `` I 'm Just a Lucky So - and - So '' `` In a Mellow Tone '' `` In a Sentimental Mood '' `` It Do n't Mean a Thing ( If It Ai n't Got That Swing ) '' `` Just A-Sittin ' and A-Rockin ' '' `` Just Squeeze Me ( But Please Do n't Tease Me ) '' `` The Mooche '' `` Mood Indigo '' `` Prelude to a Kiss '' `` Rocks in My Bed '' `` ( In My ) Solitude '' `` Sophisticated Lady '' Billy Strayhorn compositions associated with Ellington `` Take the `` A '' Train '' `` Lush Life '' `` Chelsea Bridge '' `` Something to Live For '' `` Satin Doll '' `` Blood Count '' Juan Tizol compositions associated with Ellington `` Caravan '' `` Perdido '' Orchestra members Hayes Alvis Cat Anderson Ivie Anderson Harold Ashby Alice Babs Shorty Baker Butch Ballard Art Baron Aaron Bell Louie Bellson Joe Benjamin Barney Bigard Lou Blackburn Jimmy Blanton Wellman Braud Lawrence Brown Harry Carney Johnny Coles Willie Cook Buster Cooper Kay Davis Wild Bill Davis Wilbur de Paris Bobby Durham Mercer Ellington Rolf Ericson Jimmy Forrest Victor Gaskin Peter Giger Tyree Glenn Paul Gonsalves Sonny Greer Fred Guy Jimmy Hamilton Otto Hardwick Rick Henderson Al Hibbler Johnny Hodges Major Holley Charlie Irvis Quentin Jackson Hilton Jefferson Herb Jeffries Freddie Jenkins Money Johnson Herbie Jones Taft Jordan Al Killian Queen Esther Marrow Wendell Marshall Murray McEachern Louis Metcalf James `` Bubber '' Miley Harold `` Geezil '' Minerve Ray Nance Tricky Sam Nanton Oscar Pettiford Eddie Preston Russell Procope Junior Raglin Betty Roché Ernie Royal Al Sears Joya Sherrill Willie Smith Elmer Snowden Rex Stewart Billy Strayhorn Billy Taylor Clark Terry Juan Tizol Norris Turney Ben Webster Arthur Whetsol Cootie Williams Nelson Williams Skippy Williams Booty Wood Jimmy Woode Britt Woodman Sam Woodyard Filmography Black and Tan Check and Double Check Belle of the Nineties Murder at the Vanities Jam Session Cabin in the Sky Anatomy of a Murder Paris Blues Assault on a Queen Change of Mind Related Mercer Ellington ( son ) Duke Ellington Bridge Duke Ellington House Duke Ellington School of the Arts Luther Henderson Irving Mills Sophisticated Ladies Play On ! Sacred Concerts Duke Ellington discography Harry James Singles `` Goodnight, My Love '' `` Sing, Sing, Sing ( With a Swing ) '' `` One O'Clock Jump '' `` It 's the Dreamer in Me '' `` Boo - Woo '' `` Woo - Woo '' `` I Found a New Baby '' `` Ciribiribin '' `` The Flight of the Bumblebee '' `` You Made Me Love You '' `` Misirlou '' `` I Do n't Want to Walk Without You '' `` Easter Parade '' `` Sleepy Lagoon '' `` Skylark '' `` I Remember You '' `` But Not for Me '' `` I Cried for You '' `` Mr. Five by Five '' `` I Had the Craziest Dream '' `` Manhattan Serenade '' `` I 've Heard That Song Before '' `` Moonlight Becomes You '' `` All or Nothing at All '' `` I 'll Get By ( As Long as I Have You ) '' `` On a Little Street in Singapore '' `` Memphis Blues '' `` I 'm Beginning to See the Light '' `` Guess I 'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry '' `` The More I See You '' `` If I Loved You '' `` It 's Been a Long, Long Time '' `` I Ca n't Begin to Tell You '' `` I 'm Always Chasing Rainbows '' `` Who 's Sorry Now '' `` Heartaches '' `` Jalousie ( Jealousy ) '' `` Stella by Starlight '' `` Mona Lisa '' `` Would I Love You ( Love You, Love You ) '' `` You 'll Never Know '' Albums Boogie Woogie Harry James And His Orchestra 1948 - 49 Young Man with a Horn Wild About Harry ! The New James Harry 's Choice ! Related articles `` Everything but You '' Louise Tobin Betty Grable Book : Harry James Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I%27m_Beginning_to_See_the_Light&oldid=849666437 '' Categories : 1944 songs Songs with music by Duke Ellington Songs with lyrics by Don George Songs written by Johnny Hodges Songs with lyrics by Harry James Lena Horne songs Johnnie Ray songs Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2016 Talk About Wikipedia Deutsch Esperanto Nederlands Edit links This page was last edited on 10 July 2018, at 14 : 47 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote i'm beginning to see the light
Answer: Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James