Ray Evans, the songwriter of Doris Day’s multi-million seller “Que Sera, Sera” dies aged 92

The Oscar-winning composer Ray Evans wrote countless hit songs including Doris’s most successful single release “Que Sera, Sera”.

The music industry is mourning the sad loss of the prolific Jewish songwriter Ray Evans. He apparently died from a heart attack on Thursday, 15 February 2007.

Evans was born in Salamanca, New York and best known for his collaboration with the late composer Jay Livingston. The duo were responsible for some of the most enduring songs in the great American songbook. Three of their songs won Academy Awards: “Buttons and Bows” (from the 1948 movie The Paleface); “Mona Lisa” (from the 1950 movie Captain Carey, U.S.A.) and Doris’s million-seller “Que Sera Sera” (from the 1956 Hitchcock movie The Man Who Knew Too Much).

It is interesting to note, that the phrase which inspired Doris’s signature tune, “Que Sera, Sera”, came from the movie The Barefoot Contessa. Although the motto was originally used in its Italian form Evans and Livingston switched the “Che” to “Que” as more people around the world understood Spanish. When they got the Hitchcock film project they knew it was the perfect title for the song that played a pivotal role in the gripping suspense-thriller. Incidentally, Doris recalled in her 1976 biography having had some concern when she first heard the song:

“…Well, it’s a kiddie song. It’s sweet, and perfect for where I sing it in the film, but I was hoping it would be more than that. You know – ‘Whatever will be, will be’ – that’s not really my kind of lyric…” – Doris Day