In 1939, Ned Washington first inspired dreamers with his evocative lyrics for the song “When You Wish Upon a Star,” which he co-wrote with fellow Legend and Composer Leigh Harline. The beloved ballad, first introduced by Jiminy Cricket in the animated feature “Pinocchio,” remains the signature song of The Walt Disney Company today.
Ned was passionate about putting words to music and subsequently, garnered three Academy Awards®, two of which were for his work on “Pinocchio,” including Best Song (“When You Wish Upon a Star”) and Best Music and Original Score.
As Animator Frank Thomas recalled, during the film’s production, “Ned would sit facing Walt, knee-to-knee, and while Leigh (Harline) played a song they’d developed on the piano, Ned would slap Walt’s knee and say ‘Oh, you’re gonna’ love this …’ and ’Oh, listen to this, Walt …” He was very enthusiastic to the point Walt finally said, ‘For crying out loud Ned, let me listen to the song!’ "
Born August 15, 1901… read more
In 1939, Ned Washington first inspired dreamers with his evocative lyrics for the song “When You Wish Upon a Star,” which he co-wrote with fellow Legend and Composer Leigh Harline. The beloved ballad, first introduced by Jiminy Cricket in the animated feature “Pinocchio,” remains the signature song of The Walt Disney Company today.
Ned was passionate about putting words to music and subsequently, garnered three Academy Awards®, two of which were for his work on “Pinocchio,” including Best Song (“When You Wish Upon a Star”) and Best Music and Original Score.
As Animator Frank Thomas recalled, during the film’s production, “Ned would sit facing Walt, knee-to-knee, and while Leigh (Harline) played a song they’d developed on the piano, Ned would slap Walt’s knee and say ‘Oh, you’re gonna’ love this …’ and ’Oh, listen to this, Walt …” He was very enthusiastic to the point Walt finally said, ‘For crying out loud Ned, let me listen to the song!’ "
Born August 15, 1901, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Ned was the only one of nine children who did not study music. Rather, he wrote poetry, some of which was published in local newspapers and magazines. At 21, he moved to New York to break into show business, booking acts in vaudeville theaters, and emceeing shows.
He wrote songs in his spare time and in 1928, famed Broadway producer Earl Carroll used one of Ned’s creations in his popular stage revue “Vanities.” A year later, Warner Brothers hired him to write lyrics for talking pictures, including the popular song “Singing in the Bathtub” featured in the all-star flick “Show of Shows.”
In 1932, Big Band Leader Tommy Dorsey adopted Ned’s “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You” as his signature tune and in 1933, Ned collaborated with crooner Bing Crosby writing lyrics for the love song “A Ghost of a Chance.”
He arrived at Disney in 1938 and received Oscar® nods for “Baby Mine” featured in “Dumbo” and for the title song of “Saludos Amigos.” Ned also wrote lyrics for “I’m a Happy-Go-Lucky Fellow” featured in the “Mickey and the Beanstalk” sequence of “Fun and Fancy Free.”
During his 40-plus year career, he wrote music with famed composers including Victor Young (“Stella by Starlight” for “The Uninvited” in 1944) at studios ranging from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to Paramount. Other popular standards by Ned include “Nearness of You” with Hoagy Carmichael and “Someday I’ll Meet You Again” with Max Steiner.
His unique flair for penning motion picture title songs (40 in all) led to “High Noon” starring Gary Cooper, earning Ned his third Academy Award® and “The High and the Mighty” starring John Wayne, winning him another one of 12 total Oscar® nominations. In between motion pictures, he wrote for radio and stage, and crossing over into early television, created theme songs for such series as “Rawhide.”
Ned Washington died on December 20, 1976, in Beverly Hills, California. —Disney Legends
