Billy (Wilbur) Moll (1904 – January 17, 1968)^[1] was an American songwriter and primarily lyricist, the co-writer of several popular songs such as "I Want a Little Girl" (1930), "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" (1931), "Hang Out the Stars in Indiana" (1931), and the novelty song "Ice Cream (I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream)" (1927).^[2] His works were performed by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Bessie Smith, Frankie Laine, Barbra Streisand, Eric Clapton, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Al Bowlly.

Moll was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1904, the son of Frank Moll and his wife.^[1] Moll's father was a carpenter at the University of Wisconsin. Moll attended Randall Grade School at Madison, followed by High School. His first song, "The Memphis Maybe Man", was published in 1924; this was followed by "Six Feet of Papa", first recorded in August 1926. His first major hit was the 1927 novelty song, "Ice Cream (I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream)". Moll worked mainly as a lyricist, sometimes working with other lyricists such as Ted Koehler.

Moll married Lauretta Radecki of Stoughton, Wisconsin in 1928. In August 1929 the couple moved to New York City, where Moll had gained employment with the Tin Pan Alley company of Shapiro-Bernstein Music Publishing Company.^[1] Here music was produced for popular songs, and music for movies and plays: his work was mostly to do with lyrics. In 1930, he wrote the lyrics for a Broadway musical, Jonica (credited as William Moll).^[3] In the early 1940s the couple relocated back to Stoughton where Moll continued to write songs for the company. Moll was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.^[1]

Moll died in Stoughton, Wisconsin on January 17, 1968, aged 63, and was buried in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery, Stoughton. He was survived by his wife and three sons.^[1]

While employed by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Moll co-wrote music for "talkie" films: "Sergeant Flagg and Sergeant Quirt" for The Cock-Eyed World (1929), "Atta Boy" for Howdy Broadway (1929) and "Lil" for For the Love o' Lil (1930). Also in 1930, "So The Bluebirds and the Blackbirds Got Together " featured in the movie King of Jazz, and "Ro-ro-rollin' Along" in the Western film Near the Rainbow's End. In 1931 Moll contributed additional lyrics to the 1926 song "Honeymoon Lane', from the musical of the same name written by James F. Hanley (music), Eddie Dowling (lyrics), for the 1931 filmed version.

"Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" was performed by Bing Crosby four times, with its film debut in the Mack Sennett short, One More Chance (1931). It was also was sung by Frankie Laine in the film Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (1952),^[4] and it is included in the soundtrack for the 1974 Barbra Streisand film The Way We Were: Original Soundtrack Recording.^[5]

The August 25, 1931 version of "Hang Out the Stars in Indiana", recorded in London with Al Bowlly as vocalist, accompanied by Ray Noble and his New Mayfair Dance Orchestra.^[6] was used by film director Bruce Robinson in his 1987 film, Withnail and I.^[7] It also features in the soundtrack of the 2020 film Six Minutes to Midnight. The 2008 film The Edge of Love, starring Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy and Matthew Rhys, featured pop singer Suggs (credited as Graham McPherson) as crooner Al Bowlly. He sings "Hang Out the Stars in Indiana" in a scene filmed in a nightclub. Knightley also briefly sings the song in another scene.

Information about Moll's songwriting credits is largely taken from the Discography of American Historical Recordings.^[2]

• Billy Moll at IMDb
• Billy Moll at AllMusic
• Billy Moll at DAHR
• Billy Moll at Discogs
• Billy Moll at Jazzstandards.com