Composer, arranger, author, record executive, educated at St. John's
and Brooklyn Law Schools. He studied music with Orville Mayhood and
Joseph Schillinger. Hal was the chief arranger for the
Hal Kemp and
Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, and then served in the US Army during WW II. He was
a freelance arranger in Hollywood for
Bing Crosby,
Frank Sinatra,
Judy Garland,
Kay Starr,
Peggy Lee, and
Sarah Vaughan. He took over as the music director for
Mercury Records in 1956.
Joining ASCAP in 1936, his other song compositions include
"Rigamarole", "Hodge-Podge", "Jumpin' Jiminy", "Sing, It's Good For
Ya", and "Goin' to Town".