Oscar Levant

American pianist, composer, author, comedian, and actor. Born on December 27, 1906 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died on August 14, 1972 in Beverly Hills, California. He was as famous for his mordant character and witticisms, on the radio and in movies and television, as his was for his music. After moving to New York at 16 following the death of his father, he studied under Zygmunt Stojowski, a Polish composer and well-known piano teacher. He wrote 9 songs that cracked the song charts in the U.S, led by "Lady, Play Your Mandolin" by Nick Lucas, which rose to #5 in the U.S. (co-written by Irving Caesar). From 1929 to 1948, he composed the music for more than twenty movies.