Born in Rumford, Maine. Academy Award-winning composer and songwriter ("Whistle While You Work", "Some Day My Prince Will Come"), and pianist, educated at the University of California. He was a pianist in film theatres, and then came to Hollywood under contract to Walt Disney in 1933, working largely uncredited until 1937. He remained at the studio until he commited suicide in 1942. An ASCAP member from 1938, his chief musical collaborators included Ann Ronell and Larry Morey. His other popular-song compositions include "I Bring You a Song", "Love Is a Song", "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?", "Spring Is in the Air", "Ain't Nature Grand?", "The Golden Youth", "Slow but Sure", "With a Smile and a Song", "I'm Wishing", "Heigh-Ho", "Happy as a Lark", "The Sunny Side of Things", "One Song", and "Baby Mine."  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Score) 1937: SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS - Score (w. Leigh Harline & Paul J. Smith)  Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1941: DUMBO (w. Oliver G. Wallace)  Nominated for Music Best Song 1941: DUMBO "Baby Mine" - Music  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) 1942: BAMBI (w. Edward H. Plumb)  Nominated for Music Best Song 1942: BAMBI "Love Is a Song" - Music 5 nominations, 1 Award