George C. Cory Jr. (August 3, 1920[1] – April 11, 1978[2]) was an American pianist and composer whose most notable work was creating the music of the song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco".
When the song was written in 1953, Cory and Cross were amateur songwriters who had moved to New York following military service during World War II and had become homesick for the West Coast.
Cross had been a baritone soloist (and youngest member) of the San Francisco Opera Company in 1941 when his career was interrupted by the war.
[9] After military service, the two moved to Brooklyn, New York, to make a career of songwriting and met with mixed success.
[11] Cory was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on April 11, 1978, of what the New York Times reported to be a drug overdose.