Hy Zaret

Academy Award-nominated songwriter and lyricist ("Unchained Melody", 1955, with composer Alex North for the film "Unchained") and attorney, educated at West Virginia University and the Brooklyn Law School (LL.B). He practised law for several years, then joined the United States Army in World War II, serving in the Special Services where he wrote special material for the album "Strictly G.I.". Hy Zaret was presented with numerous honors and awards for his works, including a George Foster Peabody Award, Ohio State University Institute for Education Award (twice), National Conference of Christians and Jews Award, American Heritage Foundation Award: Freedom House. His commissions and citations include those from the United States Public Health Service, the American Medical Association, the National Foundation on Infantile Paralysis, the National Safety Council, and the United States Treasury Department. He joined ASCAP in 1942, and his chief musical collaborators included Joan Whitney, Alex Kramer and Louis Singer.