Robert Wells (songwriter)

Robert Wells (born Robert Levinson, October 15, 1922 – September 23, 1998) was an American songwriter, composer, screenwriter and television producer. During his early career, he collaborated with Mel Tormé, writing several hit songs, most notably “The Christmas Song” in 1945. Later, he became a prolific writer and producer for television, for such shows as The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, as well as for numerous variety specials, such as If They Could See Me Now, starring Shirley MacLaine. He was nominated for several Academy Awards and won six Emmys and a Peabody Award. Early life and career Robert Wells was born to a Jewish family in 1922 in Raymond, Washington, the son of Edna Irene (Bradford) and Nathan Levinson. He attended a local business college and later the University of Southern California, where he majored in speech and drama. He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Both before and after the war, he worked as a scriptwriter and lyricist for both radio and film. Work with Mel Tormé From 1945–1949, Wells collaborated extensively with Mel Tormé. Among their many hits were “Born to be Blue” and “A Stranger Called the Blues”, as well as numerous film