Arthur Altman was a prolific American songwriter who composed over 400 songs from the 1930s through the 1960s. Born in 1910, he trained as a classical violinist and began his career with the CBS Radio Orchestra before shifting to composition. His most enduring contribution to the American songbook is "All or Nothing at All," co-written with lyricist Jack Lawrence, which became Frank Sinatra's first hit and has been recorded by over 150 artists including Count Basie, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan. His other notable works include "All Alone Am I" and "I Will Follow Him," both recorded by Brenda Lee, with the latter reaching number one in 1963. Altman joined ASCAP in 1934 and continued writing into the 1960s. He died in Lake Worth, Florida, in 1994.
