The classic popular song “Blue Moon” is officially credited to the songwriting team Richard Rodgers (music) and Lorenz Hart (lyrics).

Who wrote “Blue Moon”?

Most music histories and reference works list:

  • Composer: Richard Rodgers
  • Lyricist: Lorenz Hart
  • Year generally cited: 1934, with early recordings released around 1934–1935.

This is the authorship you’ll see on recordings by artists from Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to doo‑wop groups like The Marcels.

But is there controversy?

Yes. In recent years, an alternative authorship claim has surfaced:

  • A site and related memoir argue that “Blue Moon” was actually composed in 1931 by Edward W. Roman, a 17‑year‑old son of Polish immigrants in Troy, New York.
  • This account says Roman wrote the melody and lyrics after a moonlit skating evening and later became entangled—directly or indirectly—with the published version attributed to Rodgers and Hart.
  • Coverage notes a 1936 lawsuit and family stories that Roman may have sold or settled his claim cheaply, allegedly for around 900 dollars.

Mainstream discographies, copyright listings, and music histories, however, still recognize Rodgers and Hart as the official writers.

Quick Scoop (short version)

  • Officially credited writers: Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.
  • Alternative claim: Edward W. Roman’s family and a dedicated “Blue Moon” site say he wrote the song in 1931 and that his work was later absorbed into the famous standard.

So, if you’re answering in the conventional, music‑industry sense: it was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.