Real name: Moritz Amsterdam

Effective period / Period of releases: 1963 - 1966

American TV actor, comedian, songwriter & cellist.
Best known for the role of Buddy Sorrell on CBS's The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966).
Born December 14, 1908, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Died October 27, 1996, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Married to comedienne Mabel Todd (1933-1946).
Married to Kay Patrick (1949-1996, his death).

A cellist from an early age, as a songwriter, he left a mark as well, with over 100 songs to his credit. Top charting song he wrote was "(Oh Why, Oh Why, Did I Ever Leave) Wyoming" by Dick Jurgens and His Orchestra in 1947, which hit #14 overall U.S. (#4 on country charts).
"Rum and Coco-Cola", a song some people say he stole, a version of which was originally done in Trinidad by Lord Invader & Lionel Belasco (who wrote the music in 1906), he brought to the states after visiting in 1943 and had it copywritten. The song hit #4 overall for Abe Lyman and His Californians, and #8 overall by Vaughn Monroe, both in March of 1945. It became the #1 song in the country for the Andrew Sisters in June of 1945, spending 10 weeks there.
After the song's popularity in the states, Belasco and Lord Invader sued for copyright infringement. In 1948, both won their cases, with Lord Invader receiving an award of $150,000 in owed royalties. Amsterdam, however, was allowed to retain copyright to the song.
Amsterdam's songs were often on the comedic side, and he had a very good wit in his lyrics. ASCAP IPI # 858115.