Paul Burkhard (21 December 1911 in Zurich - 6 September 1977 in Zell ) was a Swiss composer . He studied oratorios , musicals and operettas .The contemporaneous and similarly named Swiss composer Willy Burkhard was no relation to him.

The Black Pike (re-issued in 1950 as The Fireworks ) that premiered in April 1939. The song rose to # 1 on the Sheet Music Chart and stayed in the chart for 26 weeks. Alan Breeze , Billy Cotton , Billy Vaughn , Connie Francis , Diana Decker , Eddie Calvert , Eddie Fisher , The Everly Brothers , Harry James , Lys Assia , Ray Anthony & his Orchestra , Russ Morgan & his Orchestra, and many others.