George Wyle(1916-2003)

Songwriter("The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"), composer, educator, author, conductor, arranger, and a specialist in both professional and amateur choral work. After his education at James Monroe High School, he began his musical career in 1933 as a pianist and arranger, becoming a conductor in 1944. He wrote special material for Kate Smith and the Deep River Boys, and was the choral conductor for radio's "Serenade to America" and conductor and arranger for the "Alan Young Show" radio programs. He also conducted and arranged for Doris Day, Dennis Day, Howard Keel, and Lisa Kirk, and for many recordings Joining ASCAP in 1948, his chief musical collaborator was Eddie Pola, and included among his other four hundred-plus popular-song compositions are "Wasn't It Wonderful?", "I Said My Pajamas and Put on My Prayers", "I Didn't Slip, I Wasn't Pushed, I Fell", "Quicksilver", "I Love the Way You Say Goodnight", "Give Me Your Word" and "Santa Claus Party".