He graduated from The Juilliard School of Music in New York City in
1942. He composed the orchestrations for the dance numbers for the
original broadway production of "Flower Drum Song" which was composed
by Jule Styne and Richard Rogers. He adapted the music of Fats Waller
for the original broadway production of "Ain't Misbehavin'" and served
as the music director.
He was twice nominated for Broadway's Tony Award: in 1992,
collaborating on music with 'Jelly Roll Morton' and with lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, as Best
Score (Musical) for "Jelly's Last Jam;" and in 1997 for Best
Orchestrations for "Play On!".
He was a staff orchestrator for The U. S. Navy School of Music,
Washington, D. C. from 1944-1946.
He has arranged over 100 songs for The Canadian Brass.