Composer, songwriter and author. He joined ASCAP in 1949, and his popular-song compositions include "Colt .45", "Mind If I love You?", "There's No You", "The Riddle Song", and "With All My Heart".
Uncle to Jay North (Dennis the Menace) who, along with his wife, Mary (Jay's mother's sister) was Jay's on-set guardian. Jay does not speak fondly of them and holds them largely responsible for his early-adult emotional problems.