Academy Award-winning songwriter ("Buttons and Bows" [1948], "Mona Lisa" [1950], "Que Sera Sera" [1956]), composer, author, musician and publisher, educated at the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania. He began his career in the college dance orchestra, then played in local night clubs and cruise ships. He wrote special material for Olsen and Johnson, then went to Hollywood and was signed to a contract with Paramount in 1945-46, and then became a freelancer. His Broadway stage scores include "Oh Captain!" and "Let It Ride". He has written special material for television and night club acts, including those of Betty Hutton, Cyd Charisse and Mitzi Gaynor. With his partner, Jay Livingston (who also was his chief musical collaborator), he owned a music-publishing firm. Other musical collaborators included Henry Mancini, Max Steiner and Victor Young.

Joining ASCAP in 1945, his popular-song compositions include "Silver Bells", "G'bye Now", "Stuff Like That There", "A Square in the Social Circle", "My Love Loves Me", "A Thousand Violins", "I'll Always Love You", "Misto Cristofo Columbo", "Love Him", "The Ruby and the Pearl", "Haven't Got a Worry", "Never Let Me Go", "As I Love You", "Let Me Be Loved", "You're So Right for Me", "Surprise", "The Morning Music of Montmartre", "Marshmallow Moon", "My Beloved", "Angel Town", "All the Time", "Almost in Your Arms", "Dreamsville", "Warm and Willing", "Just an Honest Mistake", "His Own Little Island", "Love, Let Me Know" and "On My Way".