Composer, arranger, author, record executive, educated at St. John's and Brooklyn Law Schools. He studied music with Orville Mayhood and Joseph Schillinger. Hal was the chief arranger for the Hal Kemp and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, and then served in the US Army during WW II. He was a freelance arranger in Hollywood for Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Kay Starr, Peggy Lee, and Sarah Vaughan. He took over as the music director for Mercury Records in 1956.

Joining ASCAP in 1936, his other song compositions include "Rigamarole", "Hodge-Podge", "Jumpin' Jiminy", "Sing, It's Good For Ya", and "Goin' to Town".