American songwriter, theatrical composer and lyricist, and screenwriter.
Born May 17, 1921 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
Died February 17, 1998 in Beverly Hills, California, USA.

For the trumpet & flugelhorn player, see Bob Merrill.

He charted eighty-five songs on the U.S. and U.K. charts between 1949 and 2010. If I Knew You Were Coming (I’d’ve Baked a Cake) by Eileen Barton hit #1 in the U.S. in 1950 (co-written by Al Hoffman & Al Trace (as Clem Watts). In 1953 he had another #1 with (How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window? by Patti Page. She Wears Red Feathers by Guy Mitchell and Mambo Italiano by Rosemary Clooney each hit #1 in the U.K. in 1953. In 1953 it was the U.S. again with his next #1 Look at That Girl by Guy Mitchell and in 1957 it was Honeycomb by Jimmie Rodgers. In 1964 he had his next #1 in the U.S. (adult contemporary, #5 overall): People by Barbra Streisand (co-written by Jule Styne). Overall, 31 of his charted songs landed in the top 10.
He was nominated for Broadway’s Tony Award five times but never won: in 1958, for the music & lyrics as part of a Best Musical nomination for New Girl in Town; in 1960, for the lyrics and music as part of a Best Musical nomination for Take Me Along; in 1962, for the music & lyrics as part of a Best Musical nomination for Carnival; and in 1964, for the lyrics as part of a Best Musical nomination, and as Best Composer and Lyricist, with collaborator Jule Styne, for Funny Girl.
He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1993 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.