Pianist, Songwriter, Composer, Arranger, and Orchestra Leader. He is best remembered for his compositions "The Stripper" (number 1 on the US charts in 1962), "Holiday for Strings" (number 2 on the US charts in 1944), and "Poinciana" (or "Song of the Tree", number 11 on the US charts in 1944). Born to Jewish parents, he was raised in Chicago, Illinois where at the age of 16 he launched his musical career with the Ted Fio Rito's band. In the 1930s, he first gained attention while arranging music for the Frank Trumbauer Orchestra as well as the band at the WGN radio station in Chicago. While there, he composed several early swing tunes including "Break it Down", "Transcontinental", and "Plantation Moods". He went to Hollywood, California where he formed the Dave Rose Orchestra, doing a twice-weekly radio show for the Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS) called "California Melodies". Working his way to the MBS music director, his first attempt at composing was his hit song "Holiday for Strings," (later to become the theme for Red Skelton's programs). After the US entered World War II in December 1941, he joined the US Army and met future legendary entertainer Red Skelton, who asked him to be his orchestra conductor for his "Raleigh Cigarettes Program", which he did in 1948, and continued to work in that capacity as well as on his television show "The Red Skelton Hour" for over 20 years. In 1957 his rendition of Larry Clinton's "Calypso Melody" became his second million selling gold record. His tune "The Stripper" was composed and recorded in 1958 and was originally used as a filler on the B-side to his single "Ebb Tide." MGM wanted to market "Ebb Tide" quickly and needed something to go on the B-side. Because he was not available to make a selection, an office boy went through his tapes and picked it, and four years later it would achieve fame as a number 1 release. He also wrote the theme songs for many television shows including "It's a Great Life", "The Tony Martin Show", "Little House on the Prairie", "Highway to Heaven", "Bonanza", and "Highway Patrol" under the pseudonym Ray Llewellyn, and received four Emmy Awards for his television musical compositions. He married actress Martha Raye in 1938 and they were divorced in 1941; and then married actress and singer Judy Garland in 1941 and they divorced in 1944. He died at the age of 80. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.