In 1949, he wrote the English lyrics of the French song "Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai ?" which were written in 1947 by Édith Piaf with the music of Henri Betti. The title song became "What Can I Do ?" and the song was recorded in March 1950 in Chicago by Maddy Russell with Mitch Miller and his Orchestra.
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1982.
Buried with his wife Florence Miles in the "Westchester Hills Cemetery".