Prolific American composer/songwriter. Early on played clarinet and saxophone in Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. His extensive song catalogue includes "The Lady In Red", "Music, Maestro, Please", "I'm Stepping Out With a Memory Tonight", "My Own America", "Zip-a-Dee Doo-Dah" (Academy Award, 1947), "Flirtation Walk" and "Gone With the Wind". He was a graduate of Wesleyan University and Columbia University. Member of ASCAP from 1933, the following year signed as a contract song writer by Warner Brothers. With Disney from 1947.