Maury Laws, born on December 6, 1923, in Burlington, North Carolina, was an American television and film composer. In his teens, he performed as a singer and guitarist in local country, jazz, and dance bands. His career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Army. Laws' breakthrough came in 1964 when he was hired as music director for Videocraft International (now Rankin/Bass), a position he held for approximately 20 years. In this role, he conducted and scored music for numerous animated features, including The Hobbit, Jack Frost, The Flight of Dragons, and Frosty the Snowman. His most recognized work is an adaptation of Johnny Marks' score for the Christmas special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", first aired in 1964. Laws also composed music for the theatrical feature Mad Monster Party? in 1967. He passed away on March 28, 2019, in Appleton, Wisconsin.
