Composer, songwriter ("Manana", "It's A Good Day"), guitarist, conductor and arranger, educated at Flushing High School and in private music study. He was a guitarist in the bands of Wingy Manone and Red Norvo, then joined the Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman orchestras. He conducted and arranged for record companies and joined ASCAP in 1947, collaborating with Peggy Lee and Henry Beau. His other popular-song compositions include: "You Was Right, Baby"; "What More Can a Woman Do?"; "I Don't Know Enough About You"; "Forever Paganini"; "Forever Nicki"; and "Jut an Old Love of Mine".