Songwriter, composer, singer, author and manager, educated in high school and then a singer on radio, burlesque, night clubs and films, with bands. He worked in a defense plant during World War II, and went on to write special material for radio and television commercials, and also managed talent. Joining ASCAP in 1955, his chief musical collaborators included Gene de Paul, Richard Loring, and Alan Copeland, and his popular-song compositions include "Summertime Lies", "Love Me Now", "That's the Way I Feel", "Try My Arms", "Stranger", "Joanie", "Go Back to Him", "I Know She's Mine", and "Happy Birthday, My Love".