Maurice Hart
Maurice Bernard Hart was born on January 6, 1909, in New York City, New York, and passed away on June 10, 1978, in Los Angeles, California. Educated at Business College, Hart initially worked as a stockbroker for seven years before embarking on a distinguished thirty-year career as a radio and television announcer. He also made significant contributions as a songwriter, composer, and author, writing numerous commercial jingles over a twelve-year period.
Hart joined the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1954, collaborating with notable figures such as Al Hoffman, Al Stillman, Walter Kent, and Bob Emmerich. His popular compositions include "Believing," "Starlite and Music," "One Misty, Moisty Morning," and "Snerling Through the Flowers."
In the 1930s, Hart began his announcing career at WAAT in New Jersey, where he was the announcer for Frank Sinatra's first radio show. He later moved to New York to work as an announcer and disc jockey at WNEW. In 1946, Hart relocated to Hollywood to work for KFWB, becoming the highest-paid DJ on the West Coast. He then joined KNX, the Los Angeles CBS affiliate, where he and his wife, Lillian Hayton, wrote and produced the show "Memory Lane," which aired weekly across 11 Western states. Hart also hosted a daily DJ show on KNX and was the announcer/spokesman for many commercials, performing voice-over work in numerous films.
Maurice Hart was married to Lillian Hayton, the sister of Oscar winner Lennie Hayton and sister-in-law to Lena Horne. They had one child, Michele Hart, who became an actor and dancer.