John Elliot

Background

Elliot was born in Gowanda, New York on 7 May 1914.

Education

He was educated at Bennett High School in Buffalo, New York and then worked as an entertainer in vaudeville, nightclubs, and on radio.

Career

In 1939, he also worked as a theatre reporter for the Chicago edition of Variety. Jack subsequently composed songs for over 40 Western movies at Republic Studio alone, most notably for Roy Rogers & Dale Evans films. He was the lyricist for several songs by Harold Spina, including "lieutenant"s So Nice To Have A Manitoba Around The House" (made famous by Dinah Shore).

With Lew Quadling, he wrote "Sam"s Song", which was a hit recording in 1950 for both Bing Crosby (Decca 27112) and Joe "Fingers" Carr (Capitol 962).

By 1955, Time Magazine was describing him as an "ex-songwriter and Hollywood producer of television commercials" and as the manager of French-born nightclub singer, Vicki Benet. At the time, Elliot and Benet were developing a television series called Rendezvous with Vicki which was to be hosted by a "genuine British lord" who would also do the commercials.

Elliot died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California on 3 January 1972 at the age of 57.

Achievements

• Elliot also wrote songs with Sonny Burke for Walt Disney"s Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom which won the 1953 Oscar for Best Short Animated Feature.

Membership

He began to write songs in 1940, moved to Hollywood in 1943, and became a member of American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1945.