Robert Wells wrote the lyrics to ASCAP’s number one holiday song of the 21st century, “The Christmas Song,” in 1945 with composer Mel Torme. In his autobiography Torme tells of going to Wells’ home on a hot California day in July and finding a spiral notebook with a small verse which Wells had written to cool himself off, using phrases referring to Christmas and cold weather. Torme saw the song possibilities and in 45 minutes they had completed the song which Nat “King” Cole took to the charts the following year. Wells and Torme also collaborated on “County Fair” for the 1949 Disney film So Dear to My Heart; the title song for the Jimmy Stewart film, Magic Town; and “Born to Be Blue.”

Wells collaborated with Fred Karger and James Jones on “Reenlistment Blues” for the 1953 film From Here to Eternity and wrote lyrics for the title cut. He and Henry Mancini wrote “The Shadows of Paris” and the theme for the movie 10, “It’s Easy to Say.” “When Joanna Loved Me,” written with Jack Segal, was a hit for Tony Bennett.

Television was a gold mine for Wells who won four Emmys as writer and producer of “The Dinah Shore Chevy Show” and two Emmys for “Shirley MacLaine: If They Could See Me Now.” Among the many other stars he worked with on specials were Gene Kelly, Julie Andrews, Peggy Fleming, and Carl Sandburg. He also adapted his Broadway hit Three for Tonight, starring Harry Belafonte and Marge and Gower Champion, for television. In 1957 Wells received the Peabody Award and the Sylvania Award.

- Sandra Burlingame