Trivia

One-third of the songwriting team of Henderson-DeSylva-Brown (with Ray Henderson and Lew Brown).

Son of Hal De Forest.

In 1942, he co-founded Capitol Records with Johnny Mercer and Glen Wallichs. He and Mercer also founded Cowboy Records (Philadelphia, PA) the same year.

Inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970).

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California on June 4, 1992.

Legally acknowledged paternity of Stephen Ballentine, his son by his former secretary Marie Ballentine, when the boy was four years old.

Survived by his widow, the former Marie Wallace of the Ziegfeld Follies; they were married in 1925.

Uncle of Brooke Evans.

Portrayed by Gordon MacRae in "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (1956).