Morton Gould (December 10, 1913 – February 21, 1996) was a Jewish American composer, conductor, arranger, and pianist. Born in Richmond Hill, New York, Gould was recognized early as a child prodigy with abilities in improvisation and composition. His first composition was published at age six. Gould studied at the Institute of Musical Art, although his most important teachers were Abby Whiteside and Vincent Jones. In the 1940s, Gould appeared on the Cresta Blanca Carnival program as well as The Chrysler Hour on CBS where he reached an audience of millions. Gould died in 1996 in Orlando, Florida.