About Leigh Harline

Leigh Harline (March 26, 1907 – December 10, 1969) was an American film composer and songwriter, recognized for his “musical sophistication” and ability to craft atmospheric scores and memorable melodies. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he graduated from the University of Utah, where he studied piano and organ.

In 1928, Harline moved to California, working at radio stations in San Francisco and Los Angeles as a composer, conductor, arranger, instrumentalist, singer, and announcer. In 1931, he provided the music for the first transcontinental radio broadcast originating from the West Coast, which caught the attention of Walt Disney.

Hired by Disney in 1932, Harline composed music for over 50 animated shorts, including the “Silly Symphonies” series. He co-composed and orchestrated for Disney’s first full-length animated feature, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937), earning an Academy Award nomination. His most renowned work is the score for “Pinocchio” (1940), for which he won two Academy Awards: one for Best Original Score and another for Best Original Song for “When You Wish Upon a Star.” This song famously became the official theme of The Walt Disney Company.

In 1941, Harline left Disney to work as a freelance composer for other film studios, including Columbia, Paramount, and RKO. His career, spanning nearly three decades, earned him a total of eight Academy Award nominations. He also composed music for popular television series such as “Ben Casey” and “Daniel Boone.” Harline was posthumously recognized as a Disney Legend in 2001.

Leigh Harline’s Most Played Songs as Jazz Standards

• “When You Wish Upon a Star” (from “Pinocchio”) – His most famous composition, widely reinterpreted and considered a standard.
• “The World Owes Me a Living” (from the short film “The Grasshopper and the Ants,” 1934)

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