Philip Springer, born on May 12, 1926, in New York City, is an esteemed American composer and songwriter, best known for co-writing the classic Christmas song "Santa Baby" with lyricist Joan Javits. Springer's musical journey began in his childhood, influenced by his musical parents—his mother, Sylvia, a concert pianist, and his father, Mordecai, a lawyer with a passion for music. Demonstrating musical talent from a young age, Springer was playing Bach by ear at six.

Springer's education included studying composition under Otto Luening at Columbia College, where he graduated in 1950. He furthered his studies with a Master's degree from New York University, focusing on baroque counterpoint, and earned a Ph.D. in composition from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1973. His dissertation was notable for being the first piece for a small orchestra to incorporate the ARP 2600 synthesizer.

During World War II, Springer served as a truck driver and later became Mickey Rooney's Musical Director for an army show in Germany. His professional career took off in the 1950s at the Brill Building in New York City, where he became a staff composer. His first top ten song, "Teasin'," was recorded by Connie Haines and The Beverley Sisters.

Over his career, Springer composed approximately 540 musical pieces, collaborating with numerous notable artists such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin. He also ventured into film and television scoring, contributing to projects like "Tell Me that you Love Me, Junie Moon" and episodes of "Gunsmoke" and "Mannix." An early pioneer in electronic music, Springer incorporated synthesizers into his compositions.

Springer formed his own music publishing company, Tamir Music, and continued to write about 35 songs per year well into his later years. His work has earned him accolades, including a 2024 Webby Award for Best Individual Performance for a viral video of him playing "Moonlight Sonata."

Living in Pacific Palisades, California, Springer remains a significant figure in the music industry, celebrated for his contributions to both popular and classical music.