Floyd Huddleston

Huddleston was born in Leland, Mississippi, and would later sing and write songs for Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band during World War II. After he was discharged, Huddleston came to California where he was under contract with Decca Records in 1949. There, he co-wrote with Al Rinker an estimated 800 songs, some of which were recorded by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Sarah Vaughan.[1] Soon after, Huddleston would compose lyrics for theater productions such as Shuffle Along and The New Ziegfeld Follies.

Later in his life he wrote lyrics for songs in several films, including The Ballad of Josie and Midnight Cowboy. For Disney, he contributed the song, "Everybody Wants to be a Cat", to The Aristocats. For Robin Hood, he and George Bruns were nominated for an Academy Award for "Love," sung by his wife, Nancy Adams. Huddleston would also produce unused songs for a proposed version of The Rescuers with songs performed by Louis Prima with Sam Butera and the Witnesses.[2] In 1978, he not only produced and composed songs, but wrote the script for a 1978 TV special starring Lucille Ball.

Huddleston died from a heart attack on September 27, 1991 at a hospital located in Panorama City, Los Angeles.[1] Huddleston was survived by his wife Nancy Adams Huddleston, his son, Huston, and his mother, Hettye T. Huddleston. At the time of his death, Huddleston was working on a musical titled Brother Elwood's Gospel Truck.

• Floyd Huddleston on IMDb