Career
Born in New York City but raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, he began writing songs in his teens. At the age of 19 he co-wrote his first successful songs, "That Girl of Mine" and "Take Maine To My Alabam", with Will Dillon. In 1931, he had success with the song "At Your Command", an early success for Bing Crosby, and also co-wrote "Sweet and Lovely", a hit for Russian Columbo.
He wrote or co-wrote the theme songs for many films in the 1930s and 1940s, including One Rainy Afternoon (1936), The Young in Heart (1938), Made for Each Other (1939), If lieutenant Wasn"t Foreign The Moon (1940) and lieutenant"s a Date (1940).
His many co-writers included Gene Autry. He died in Street Louis, Missouri at age 99 on December 15, 1994.
His interment was in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.