Mel Leven
Sound
- Born
- November 11, 1914 · Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Died
- December 17, 2007 (age 93)
His most famous song is arguably "Cruella de Vil" from the 1961 Disney animated feature One Hundred and One Dalmatians. That same year, he also wrote the story and new lyrics to sixteen tunes for the film Babes in Toyland. In later years, he wrote songs, stories, and did voice-over work for the PBS children's series Big Blue Marble, and well as working on a number of projects for television commercials. He also composed "When The Buzzards Return To Hinckley Ridge" for the 1969 Disney animated short, "It's Tough to Be a Bird", which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Short Subject in 1970. The song was sung by comedienne Ruth Buzzi.
Leven was also the original voice of Snoopy, and was in Snap, Crackle, Pop commercials. He also wrote the Little Ranger Nature series for Disney in the 1960s.
Read moreShow less
His work has been honored with two Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards.
A conservationist and talented fly fisherman, in retirement Leven traveled the world in pursuit of fish and became a beloved fixture along Northern California rivers in particular.[1] He features prominently in the 2009 documentary Rivers of a Lost Coast, on the decline of the California steelhead population. -Wikipedia
Known for
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
January 25, 1961
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin
March 8, 1967
Scrooge McDuck and Money
March 23, 1967
It's Tough to Be a Bird
December 10, 1969
Noah's Ark
November 10, 1959
The Social Side of Health
July 26, 1969
Steps Towards Maturity and Health
May 31, 1968
Backstage Party
December 17, 1961
Behind the camera10
- 1969It's Tough to Be a Bird Songs
- 1969Physical Fitness and Good Health Songs
- 1969The Social Side of Health Songs
- 1968Steps Towards Maturity and Health Songs
- 1967Scrooge McDuck and Money Original Music Composer, Lyricist
- 1967The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin Songs
- 1961Backstage Party Lyricist
- 1961One Hundred and One Dalmatians Songs, Lyricist
- 1959Noah's Ark Original Music Composer
- 1956