Biography

Composer, conductor and author, educated at UCLA, a staff pianist for KFWB in Hollywood for four years, then to vaudeville for one year. Two years after joining the Hal Roach Studios, he took over its music department, which he directed for ten years. Joining ASCAP in 1952, his most-popular composition is the Laurel and Hardy theme, "Dance of The Cuckoos," which Hatley always spelled "Ku-Ku".
- IMDb mini biography by: Hup234!

Accomplished composer and musician at Hal Roach studios during the 1930s; he wrote Laurel & Hardy's legendary signature tune 'The Cuckoo Song'.

Hatley played almost every band instrument, plus the piano. After he was released from the Roach studios in an economy move, he had a successful second career as a nightclub pianist. He always insisted he made more money as a club player than he ever did as Roach's music director.