Hit Writer Robert Allen Dies

Robert Allen, the composer/lyricist whose many chart hits in the mid- to late '50s reflected an older pop sensibility as rock'n'roll evolved into a mainstream sound, died Oct. 1 at his home in Quogue, N.Y., after a long illness.

While he had hits with other artists, he and his lyric-writing partner, Al Stillman, produced a string of particularly notable hits recorded by acts Johnny Mathis and the Four Lads, both of which appeared on Columbia Records.

In 1957, the team produced Mathis' first top 10 hit, "It's Not For Me To Say," which Allen and Stillman followed up the same year with Mathis' first of two No. 1 singles, "Chances Are." For the Four Lads, Allen and Stillman wrote the hits "Moments To Remember" (1955), "No, Not Much!" (1956), and "Who Needs You?" (1957).

Allen, a native of Troy, N.Y., started his collaboration with Stillman several years before their associations with Johnny Mathis and the Four Lads. In 1953, Perry Como succeeded with their "You Alone (Solo Tu)," and a year later Como introduced a song that would emerge as a holiday favorite, "(There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays," which Garth Brooks recorded for his 1999 Christmas album. For Como, Allen also wrote "You Are Never Far Away From Me," which Como sang at the end of his weekly programs.

Apart from Stillman, who died in 1979, Allen also wrote the words to other ballads, including two TV themes, "Theme Song From 'Song For A Summer Night' " (1956) and "A Very Special Love (Song For The Ninth Day)" (1957), that were introduced, respectively, on the Studio One production "Song For A Summer Night" and the Playhouse 90 production "The Ninth Day." In 1963, he and composer/lyricist Richard Adler collaborated on the Doris Day hit "Everybody Loves A Lover."

Other artists who recorded his songs included Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday, Mitch Miller, Carol Burnett, and George Shearing.

Some of Allen's songs were covered by contemporary acts, such as the Shirelles with "Everybody Loves A Lover" in 1963 and the Vogues with "Moments To Remember" in 1969.

Following his graduation from high school in 1945, Allen decided to pursue a career in music. He performed as a jazz pianist on the New York club circuit until the early '50s, when he began to write music. One of his first assignments was to arrange and compose for TV's "Colgate Comedy Hour."

In addition to his individual songs, Allen wrote special material for Jimmy Durante, Jane Morgan, Eddie Cantor, and Julie Wilson. Allen also wrote the soundtrack scores to several feature films.

Before his death, Allen was informed that he would be the 2000 recipient of the ASCAP Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of pop music. His widow, Patty Allen, will accept the award in New York.

In addition to his wife, Allen is survived by four children from two previous marriages, his mother, a sister, and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Attn: Philip Paty, Department of Surgery, 1275 York Ave., New York, N.Y. 10021. Services were scheduled to be private.