Inez James

American songwriter, composer and author.
Born: November 15, 1919 in New York. Died: December 19, 1993 in Sherman Oaks, California.
She is remembered as being one of three writers of the song "Vaya Con Dios" (the others were Larry Russell and Buddy Pepper), which has been recorded over 500 times. She charted in the U.S. eight times, 5 with "Vaya Con Dios" and 3 times with ""Come To Baby, Do!" (co-written by Sid Miller). Les Paul & Mary Ford hit #1 in the U.S. with their version of "Maya Con Dios" in 1953.
Inez thought she was cursed because her first three marriages ended quickly with the deaths of her husbands--her 1st marriage was to Joe McMichael--one of Merry Mac Singers. He was drafted into the Army and received a drug that he may have been allergic to and died at the age of 28 (1944). Her second husband, actor Clifton Young, with whom she was divorced, died at the age of 33 from smoking a cigarette in bed and his hotel room catching fire (1951). Her third husband was songwriter Larry Russell; he died at the young age of 40 (1954). Then she married harmonica player Bill Walden, and the curse was lifted--they were together more than 30 years--and she died before he did.