Michael Carr (11 March 1905 – 16 September 1968), real name Maurice Alfred Cohen, was a British popular music composer and lyricist born in Leeds, West Yorkshire here in the UK. He is best remembered for the song 'South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)', written with Jimmy Kennedy for the 1939 film of the same name. He also used the alias of Maurice Beresford.

Born the son of a cabinet maker and boxer, Morris 'Cockney' Cohen, and an Irish mother, he was brought up in Dublin where his father opened a restaurant. In his teens, he ran away to sea, and eventually became a journalist in the USA. Under the name of Michael Carr, he played a number of small roles in Hollywood films.

In 1934 he settled in London where he worked for a music company. He wrote and co-wrote several songs for such performers as Gracie Fields. One of his best-known songs, written with lyricist Jimmy Kennedy, was 'We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line' (1939). During World War II he served in the army. In 1942 he composed 'Freedom Concerto'.

Among Carr's other compositions is 'Lonely Ballerina' (1954) and this is featured on this week's show. In this photograph Michael is flanked by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in London 1939