Walter Schumann

American composer for television, movies and theater. Born 8 October 1913 in New York City, New York. Died 21 August 1958 in Rochester, Minnesota (aged 44). He wrote the "Dragnet" theme and soundtrack for "The Night of the Hunter" (1955). The Voices of Walter Schumann was his 20-member vocal group. He charted once as a performer with "Ballad of Davy Crockett", in 1959, reaching #14. He charted an additional ten times as a songwriter between 1939 and 1988 with his top charted song coming in 1953: "Dragnet" by Ray Anthony and His Orchestra, hitting #2 in the U.S. and #7 in the U.K. He also had a #1 song with "St. George & the Dragonet" by Stan Freberg, also in 1953 (co-written by Stan Freberg & Daws Butler). The "Dragnet" theme and their derivatives charted seven times.