"Rose Room", also known as "In Sunny Roseland", is a 1917 jazz standard by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The name of the song's lyricist is unknown, and it is usually performed as an instrumental. Composed at a time when the popularity of ragtime was fading in favor of thirty-two bar form and twelve-bar blues songs, the song has been called "definitely ahead of its time" by composer Alec Wilder. Indeed, the song enjoyed its biggest popularity during the swing era.[1] The song was named after the Rose Room in St. Francis Hotel, where Hickman was playing at the time.[2]
Duke Ellington is credited in popularizing the tune with his 1932 recording. Ellington later used the song's chord progression in his 1939 composition "In a Mellow Tone".[1] Rose Room is also the song with which Charlie Christian impressed Benny Goodman in 1939, jamming it solo after solo for 45 minutes with Goodman's band.
Modern Swing Group, Leader: John Kongshaug recorded a version in Oslo on December 6, 1954. It was released on the 78 rpm record His Master's Voice A.L. 3489.
Bandleader Phil Harris used "Rose Room" as his theme song while performing in San Francisco. The Lawrence Welk Orchestra/Show made a rendition with "Peanuts" Hucko on clarinet. The show in question pays tribute to Roses.