Jerry Livingston was a prolific American composer whose songs spanned pop standards, film scores, and television themes from the 1930s through the 1960s. Born Jerry Levinson in Denver, Colorado, in 1909, he worked as a pianist in dance orchestras before establishing himself as a songwriter. His most widely known work came through his scores for Walt Disney, including the complete score for Cinderella in 1950, which yielded A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes, Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, and So This Is Love. He also contributed The Unbirthday Song to Alice in Wonderland. Outside the Disney catalog, Livingston composed numerous songs that entered the popular and jazz repertoires. The Twelfth of Never became a major hit, and Mairzy Doats was a novelty sensation. His two compositions on AllSolos reflect his earlier work in the Tin Pan Alley tradition: It's the Talk of the Town and Under a Blanket of Blue, both from the 1930s, became enduring standards performed by artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Count Basie. His frequent collaborators included lyricists Mack David, Al Hoffman, Al Neiburg, Marty Symes, and Milton Drake. Livingston also composed for television, including the themes for 77 Sunset Strip and other series. He died in Los Angeles in 1987.
