Lee Pockriss

• Name — Lee Pockriss • Birth Name — Lee Julian Pockriss • Birthplace — Brooklyn, New York, U.S. • Born — 20 January 1924 • Place of death — Bridgewater, Connecticut, U.S. • Died — 14 November 2011 • Occupation — Songwriter

Born in Brooklyn and graduating from Erasmus Hall High School, Pockriss' education at Brooklyn College was interrupted by World War II, where he served as a cryptographer for the US Army Air Force. Upon his return he studied English and music at Brooklyn College, and later attended graduate school in musicology at New York University.

With Paul Vance he co-wrote Perry Como's Grammy-nominated "Catch a Falling Star", recorded in 1957; Brian Hyland's "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini", recorded in 1960; and The Cuff Links' "Tracy", recorded in 1969.

In 1959, Pockriss and Vance released a single for Columbia records as "Lee and Paul", a novelty tune called "The Chick".

With Hal Hackady he co-wrote Billy Thornhill's "The Key", recorded in 1968 on Wand Records. Again with Hal Hackady, he co-wrote the ballad "Kites"', first recorded by The Rooftop Singers, though a subsequent recording by Simon Dupree and the Big Sound charted at number 8 in Britain. He also wrote Anita Bryant's "My Little Corner of the World", recorded in 1960, Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel", recorded in 1962, and Clint Holmes' "Playground in My Mind", recorded in 1972.

In the 1980s, Pockriss wrote several songs for the children's educational series Sesame Street, including "I'm Between" (sung by Tony), "My Polliwog Ways" (sung by Kermit the Frog), "Transylvania Love Call" (Count von Count), and "My Rock" (Bert).

Pockriss died aged 87, on November 14, 2011, at his home in Bridgewater, Connecticut, United States, following a long illness.