Jay Livingston

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Jacob "Jay" Harold Levison (born March 28, 1915 in McDonald , Pennsylvania , † October 17, 2001 in Los Angeles ), known as Jay Livingston, was an American composer . Livingston and lyricist Ray Evans were the great songwriting couple in Hollywood of the 1940s and 1950s.

Life

Livingston studied piano with Harry G. Archer in Pittsburgh and worked as a musician in local clubs during his high school years. He attended the University of Pennsylvania , where he raised a dance band and met fellow student Ray Evans. Their professional collaboration began in 1937.

In 1948 they won an Oscar for the song Buttons and Bows from the western comedy His Angel with Two Pistols , in 1950 for the song Mona Lisa from the film drama Captain Carey, USA and in 1956 for the song Que Sera, Sera from Hitchcock- Thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much was awarded Doris Day . In 1958 he was nominated again for an Oscar for the ballad Tammy from the film of the same name , which, however, went to the song Lied All the Way sung by Frank Sinatra .

The million seller Mona Lisa was re-recorded in 1950 by Nat King Cole .

Livingston and Evans also wrote theme songs for television series such as Bonanza (1959) and Mr. Ed (1961). In total, they delivered the songs to 50 films, including a dozen Bob Hope comedies. 26 of her songs have sold over a million records.

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personal data
SURNAME Livingston, Jay
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Levison, Jacob Harold (maiden name); Levison, Jay Harold (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH March 28, 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH McDonald , Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH October 17, 2001
Place of death los Angeles