Mel Leven
Encyclopedia
Melville A. Leven known professionally as Mel Leven was an American
composer and lyricist who had a long association with the Walt Disney Company
, although he wrote songs for Peggy Lee
("Every Time"), The Andrews Sisters
("Commoners Boogy"), Nat King Cole
, Dean Martin
, and Les Brown
, among others.
Leven's 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.
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.
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. He features prominently in the 2009 documentary Rivers of a Lost Coast, on the decline of the California steelhead population.
According to his son, Leven died on December 17, 2007. He was 93.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer and lyricist who had a long association with the Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, although he wrote songs for Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
("Every Time"), The Andrews Sisters
The Andrews Sisters
The Andrews Sisters were a highly successful close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews , soprano Maxene Angelyn Andrews , and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie "Patty" Andrews...
("Commoners Boogy"), Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
, Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
, and Les Brown
Les Brown (bandleader)
Les Brown, Sr. and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the late 1930s, initially as the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils that Brown led while a student at Duke University. He was the first president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences...
, among others.
Leven's most famous song is arguably "Cruella de Vil
Cruella de Vil (song)
"Cruella de Vil," written by Mel Leven, is a song featured in the 1961 Disney-produced animated film 101 Dalmatians and performed by Bill Lee as the singing voice of Roger Radcliffe, a character from the movie...
" from the 1961 Disney animated feature One Hundred and One Dalmatians
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
One Hundred and One Dalmatians, often abbreviated as 101 Dalmatians, is a 1961 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith...
. That same year, he also wrote the story and new lyrics to sixteen tunes for the film Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland (1961 film)
Babes in Toyland is a 1961 Christmas musical film in Technicolor, directed by Jack Donohue, produced by Walt Disney, and distributed to theatres by Buena Vista Distribution. It stars Ray Bolger as Barnaby, Annette Funicello as Mary Contrary, Tommy Sands as Tom Piper, and Ed Wynn as the Toymaker.The...
. In later years, he wrote songs, stories, and did voice-over work for the PBS children's series Big Blue Marble
Big Blue Marble
Big Blue Marble was a half-hour children's television series that ran from 1974 to 1983 in syndication. Distinctive content included stories about children around the world and a pen-pal club that encouraged intercultural communication...
, and well as working on a number of projects for television commercials.
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.
His work has been honored with two Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards.
A conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
and talented fly fisherman
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
, in retirement Leven traveled the world in pursuit of fish and became a beloved fixture along Northern California rivers in particular. He features prominently in the 2009 documentary Rivers of a Lost Coast, on the decline of the California steelhead population.
According to his son, Leven died on December 17, 2007. He was 93.