- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJacob Harold Levison
- Height1.91 m
- Jay Livingston was born March 28, 1915 in McDonald, Pennsylvania. He (along with his partner Ray Evans) composed many songs for movies such as À chacun son destin (1946), Tammy and the Bachelor (1957) and Academy Award winning songs "Mona Lisa" from the movie Le Dénonciateur (1949), "Buttons and Bows" from the movie Visage pâle (1948) and "Que Sera Sera" from the movie L'homme qui en savait trop (1956). Livingston and Evans also collaborated on several popular TV themes such as Bonanza (1959) and Monsieur Ed, le cheval qui parle (1961).- IMDb mini biography by: Robin <soonerzs@yahoo.com>
- SpousesShirley Mitchell(May 16, 1992 - October 17, 2001) (his death)Marie Evelyn (Thomas) Gordon(March 19, 1947 - January 12, 1991) (her death)
- ChildrenTravilyn Elaine Livingston
- ParentsMaurice Herman LevisonRose Lucile Wachtel
- In their Television Archives interview, Ray Evans and Jay Livingston said when Desi Arnaz asked them to write a theme song for a Western television show, he told them he could not pay them much for a weekly salary, because the show was only going to last one year. The men made a deal with Desi to keep the rights to the song. When Bonanza became an unexpected smash-hit, owning the rights to the song, the men made millions.
- Jay Livingston and Ray Evans were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
- Was nominated for Broadway's 1958 Tony Award, music and lyrics in collaboration with Ray Evans, as part of Best Musical nomination for "Oh, Captain!".
- Inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977.
- His signature tune "Silver Bells" was originally titled "Tinkle Bells".
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