About Ben Raleigh
Lived 1913 – 1997 (aged 83). Ben Raleigh was an American lyricist, songwriter and composer.
Ben Raleigh (June 16, 1913, New York – February 26, 1997, Hollywood) was an American lyricist and composer responsible for a number of major hits, including "Dungaree Doll", "Wonderful! Wonderful!", "Hold on Girl", "She's a Fool", "I Don't Wanna Be a Loser", "Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)", “Love is a Hurtin' Thing”, “Tell Laura I Love Her” and "That's How Heartaches Are Made". His songs were recorded by artists such as Eddie Fisher, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Darin, The Monkees, Dinah Shore, Lesley Gore, Ray Peterson and Lou Rawls. "Tell Laura I Love Her" reached No.1 in the United Kingdom in 1960. "Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)" peaked at No.3 in the United States in 1946.
Raleigh composed the theme song, "Rango", with Earle Hagen for the 1967 ABC situation comedy Rango . He also composed the theme song to Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! with David Mook. Hanna-Barbera attempted to buy him out, but he declined and chose to take a royalty instead.
Raleigh was killed in a kitchen fire in his home in Los Angeles, California, in 1997.
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Important facts
People in Ben Raleigh's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ben Raleigh's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ben Raleigh?
Inventor
When was Ben Raleigh born?
Ben Raleigh was born on 16 June 1913 in New York City.
When did Ben Raleigh die?
Ben Raleigh died on 26 February 1997 in Hollywood.
What was Ben Raleigh's occupation?
Ben Raleigh was a lyricist, songwriter and composer.
What nationality was Ben Raleigh?
Ben Raleigh was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ben Raleigh. https://biography.guide/ben-raleigh/
MLA: "Ben Raleigh." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ben-raleigh/.
Chicago: "Ben Raleigh." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ben-raleigh/.
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