Following World War II he quickly became a successful arranger and composer. His clients ranged from the American Junior Miss Pageant to Jackie Wilson. His best known composition is "The Happy Wanderer". He is also known (infamously) as the composer of "Hooray for Santy Claus," the theme song for the motion picture Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
In 1966 he was briefly musical director of the Tonight Show Band. In the 1970s he was musical director of The Gong Show.