Ray Evans
Raymond Bernard Evans, born on February 4, 1915, in Salamanca, New York, was an acclaimed American lyricist renowned for his work in film music. He passed away on February 15, 2007, in Los Angeles, California. Evans is best known for his collaboration with composer Jay Livingston, forming a prolific songwriting duo that created numerous enduring standards.
Evans grew up in a Jewish family and was the valedictorian of his high school class, where he played clarinet in the band. He pursued higher education at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, earning a bachelor's degree in Economics in 1936. It was at Penn that Evans met Jay Livingston, and together they played in the university's college dance orchestra, "The Continentals." Their partnership blossomed into a successful career as they moved to New York and later Hollywood, writing songs for Broadway and film.
The duo's first major success came with the song "G'Bye Now" in the Broadway revue Hellzapoppin'. They gained further acclaim with hits like "To Each His Own," "Buttons and Bows," and "Mona Lisa," each earning significant chart success and accolades, including Academy Awards for Best Song. Their song "Que Sera Sera," featured in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much," won another Oscar and became one of their most famous works.
Evans and Livingston also contributed to television, writing themes for shows such as "Bonanza" and "Mr. Ed," and created the beloved Christmas classic "Silver Bells." Their influence extended to Broadway with scores for productions like "Oh Captain!" and "Let It Ride!"
Throughout their career, Evans and Livingston were celebrated as the "last of the great songwriters of Hollywood," and their legacy was cemented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995. Evans' work continues to be celebrated for its enduring impact on American music and film.