Hal Blair, born Hal Keller Blair on November 26, 1915, in Kansas City, Missouri, was a prominent American songwriter known for his significant contributions to country music and Hollywood films. Blair was formally trained in music at the Kansas City Institute of Music and the Denver Institute of Music, focusing on voice. His early career involved performing as a singer and guitarist in hotels, nightclubs, and stage productions. During World War II, Blair served in the Army Signal Corps.

After the war, Blair moved to Los Angeles and became a country performer with the band the Rhythm Rangers. He soon began writing songs for Western movie stars, notably collaborating with Eddie Dean on songs for nine of Dean's films between 1946 and 1948. Their song "One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)" became a major hit, recorded by over 70 artists.

In the early 1950s, Blair formed a successful songwriting partnership with Don Robertson, producing country standards like "Please Help Me, I'm Falling." Blair's work extended to writing for television shows such as "The Big Valley" and contributing songs to Elvis Presley films from 1961 to 1967. Blair primarily worked as a lyricist but was also capable of composing music.

Blair's song catalog includes hits like "I Was the One," "Ninety Miles an Hour (Down a Dead End Street)," and "Ringo." He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. Hal Blair passed away on February 2, 2001, in Biggs, California, leaving behind a legacy of influential music that continues to resonate in the country and pop music genres.