276:". Wells had written what would become the first four lines of the song on a hot day in July, 1945. Tormé had come over to visit, and saw the lines written out on a notepad. Wells thought the idea of writing a Christmas song was a good means of cooling off in the hot California summer, and Tormé agreed. The song was completed in 40 minutes, and went on to become one of the most performed Christmas songs of all time.
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Tormé and Wells parted ways in 1949, and Wells went on to write extensively for film and television, as well as to continue to collaborate on popular songs with numerous other musicians and writers. Among his collaborators were
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187:, October 15, 1922 – September 23, 1998) was an American songwriter, composer, screenwriter and television producer. During his early career, he collaborated with
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Robert Wells has written or co-written over 400 published songs. Among the more notable ones:
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fame). They remained married until her death in 1990. His second wife was
Marilyn Jackson.
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473:"Re-Enlistment Blues" and "From Here to Eternity", both with Fred Karger, from the film
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Hobe (April 13, 1955). "Legitimate: Show on
Broadway - 3 for Tonight".
269:" and "A Stranger Called the Blues", as well as numerous film songs.
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during World War II. Both before and after the war, he worked as a
814:
Primetime Emmy Award for
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
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On television, he served as a writer, songwriter and producer for
342:, as well as a 1975 British Television special for Edward's wife,
674:"All those Holiday/Christmas Songs: So Many Jewish Songwriters!"
305:). He was also the lyricist for the 1955 Broadway musical revue
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414:. He also won two Emmy awards for his work on the 1974 special
404:. In 1963, he collaborated with fellow composer and songwriter
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From 1945–1949, Wells collaborated extensively with
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350:. Other films to feature his work include the 1953 film
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Robert Wells was a frequent collaborator with filmmaker
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Between 1979–2008, writing specials competed alongside
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The
Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
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directed and starred in the production which won the
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1177:United States Army personnel of World War II
191:, writing several hit songs, most notably "
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416:Shirley MacLaine: If They Could See Me Now
29:
19:For the Canadian songwriter/producer, see
1117:Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
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160: 1949; died 1990)
1172:United States Army Air Forces soldiers
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526:Among the awards won by Robert Wells:
7:
1005:Dave Boone and Paul Greenberg (2010)
330:, composing songs for such films as
272:Their most famous work together is "
1152:Songwriters from Washington (state)
482:"What Every Girl Should Know" with
301:(with whom he was nominated for an
293:(with whom he was nominated for an
548:1998 Towering Song award from the
14:
1187:20th-century American songwriters
1167:Musicians from Washington (state)
751:"Writers Cite 'Inherit the Wind'"
672:Bloom, Nate (December 22, 2014).
644:1998 Award and Induction Ceremony
348:Julie – My Favourite Things
239:University of Southern California
23:. For the Swedish composer, see
1147:People from Raymond, Washington
552:for "The Christmas Song" (with
265:. Among their many hits were "
209:. He was nominated for several
157:
16:American songwriter (1922–1998)
1008:Dave Boone, Matt Roberts, and
1:
1157:American television producers
759:. April 27, 1955. p. 27.
601:Vosburgh, Dick (1998-10-27).
243:United States Army Air Forces
1060:, Joe Grossman, Miles Kahn,
1162:Jewish American songwriters
696:. Marquis Who's Who. 1989.
229:Robert Wells was born to a
128:Co-wrote the theme song to
1203:
1182:20th-century American Jews
693:Who's who in Entertainment
420:The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
377:The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
323:for Best Musical in 1955.
321:Outer Critics Circle Award
198:The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
18:
1113:
1064:, and Melinda Taub (2017)
434:stage actress and singer
253:for both radio and film.
174:
830:and Marty Farrell (1971)
648:Songwriters Hall of Fame
603:"Obituary: Robert Wells"
550:Songwriters Hall of Fame
507:"It's Easy to Say" with
504:" with Jack Segal (1963)
203:If They Could See Me Now
77:Santa Monica, California
640:"Towering Song of 1998"
430:In 1949, Wells married
25:Robert Wells (composer)
951:and Ted Strauss (1977)
408:to write the theme to
476:From Here to Eternity
368:Tension at Table Rock
353:From Here to Eternity
225:Early life and career
502:When Joanna Loved Me
491:Here's to the Losers
1050:Ashley Nicole Black
678:Jewish World Review
577:The Patty Duke Show
411:The Patty Duke Show
257:Work with Mel Tormé
235:Raymond, Washington
130:The Patty Duke Show
58:Raymond, Washington
1056:, Mathan Erhardt,
880:, James R. Stein,
834:Anne Howard Bailey
756:The New York Times
716:Tormé, Mel. 1988.
333:A Shot in the Dark
274:The Christmas Song
233:family in 1922 in
193:The Christmas Song
121:The Christmas Song
69:September 23, 1998
1124:
1123:
1092:Jerrod Carmichael
915:Christopher Guest
858:Karyl Geld Miller
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108:Years active
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207:Shirley MacLaine
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54:October 15, 1922
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267:Born to be Blue
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185:Robert Levinson
165:Marilyn Jackson
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919:Lorne Michaels
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654:on 2008-12-01
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544:Peabody Award
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509:Henry Mancini
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454:Notable songs
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447:Kiss Me, Kate
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426:Personal life
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390:Andy Williams
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386:Peggy Fleming
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344:Julie Andrews
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328:Blake Edwards
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308:3 for Tonight
304:
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299:Henry Mancini
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1104:Alex Edelman
1098:John Mulaney
1068:John Mulaney
1046:Samantha Bee
993:2009–present
983:Alan Zweibel
943:George Yanok
905:Robert Wells
904:
894:George Yanok
878:Herb Sargent
862:Robert Illes
844:Renée Taylor
778:Find a Grave
774:Robert Wells
754:
745:
736:
730:
724:
717:
712:
692:
686:
667:
656:. Retrieved
652:the original
643:
612:. Retrieved
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474:
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445:
439:
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419:
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394:Victor Borge
375:
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247:scriptwriter
228:
213:and won six
202:
196:
184:
181:Robert Wells
180:
179:
97:screenwriter
71:(1998-09-23)
34:Robert Wells
1142:1998 deaths
1137:1922 births
1058:Travon Free
979:Lily Tomlin
955:Chevy Chase
935:Jane Wagner
931:Lily Tomlin
886:Jane Wagner
882:Lily Tomlin
828:Bob Ellison
398:Jane Powell
362:, the 1956
205:, starring
85:Occupations
1131:Categories
1086:Bo Burnham
1034:Louis C.K.
1022:Louis C.K.
1016:Louis C.K.
1000:Chris Rock
975:Paul Simon
963:Al Franken
939:Rod Warren
901:Cy Coleman
890:Rod Warren
658:2008-12-17
614:2019-08-24
561:References
495:Jack Segal
484:David Holt
382:Gene Kelly
291:Cy Coleman
280:Other work
91:Songwriter
50:1922-10-15
1062:Jo Miller
959:Tom Davis
949:Buz Kohan
911:Ann Elder
854:Ann Elder
821:1971–1978
554:Mel Tormé
468:Mel Tormé
436:Lisa Kirk
406:Sid Ramin
356:, 1954's
263:Mel Tormé
189:Mel Tormé
146:Lisa Kirk
140:Spouse(s)
134:Sid Ramin
125:Mel Tormé
119:Co-wrote
21:Rob Wells
1010:Mo Rocca
927:Jim Rusk
874:Jim Rusk
739:(6): 72.
432:Broadway
251:lyricist
100:producer
94:composer
732:Variety
493:" with
466:" with
441:Allegro
364:western
297:), and
162:
154:
150:
1106:(2024)
1100:(2023)
1094:(2022)
1088:(2021)
1082:(2020)
1076:(2019)
1070:(2018)
1042:(2016)
1036:(2015)
1030:(2014)
1024:(2013)
1018:(2012)
1012:(2011)
1002:(2009)
985:(1978)
981:, and
945:(1976)
941:, and
907:(1975)
903:, and
896:(1974)
892:, and
846:(1973)
836:(1972)
700:
522:Awards
517:(1979)
497:(1963)
486:(1954)
479:(1953)
470:(1945)
400:, and
231:Jewish
217:and a
183:(born
79:, U.S.
60:, U.S.
542:1957
536:1957
532:Emmys
303:Oscar
215:Emmys
170:Notes
156:(
152:
132:with
123:with
842:and
698:ISBN
530:Six
444:and
438:(of
336:and
295:Emmy
249:and
66:Died
40:Born
776:at
737:198
1133::
1048:,
977:,
973:,
969:,
965:,
961:,
957:,
937:,
933:,
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925:,
921:,
917:,
913:,
888:,
884:,
876:,
872:,
868:,
864:,
860:,
856:,
852:,
753:.
735:.
676:.
646:.
642:.
623:^
605:.
583:^
569:^
514:10
422:.
396:,
392:,
388:,
384:,
371:.
346:,
339:10
315:.
289:,
221:.
158:m.
1119:.
806:e
799:t
792:v
706:.
680:.
661:.
617:.
556:)
500:"
489:"
462:"
52:)
48:(
27:.
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