Songwriter ("Blue Christmas"), composer, author and guitarist, and a contact man for Dawn Music. He joined ASCAP in 1948, and his chief musical collaborators included Jay Johnson and Milton Leeds. His other popular-song compositions include "Blue Snowflakes", "Play Fair", "Yesterday's Kisses", "Whittlin'", "Tomorrow's Just Another Day to Cry", "Got a Ring Around Rosie's Finger", "A Smile Will Chase Away a Tear", "You Laughed and I Cried", "Who Shot the Hole in My Sombrero?", "My Oklahoma Rose", and "Hillbilly Rock'.