[3] Lyrics for the ballad that was perhaps Segal's greatest hit, Scarlet Ribbons (with music composed by Evelyn Danzig Levine), were written in just 15 minutes in 1949, and the song was recorded that year by Jo Stafford.
At least 30 other artists have also recorded "Scarlet Ribbons", including The Kingston Trio, Joan Baez, Sinéad O'Connor, the Lennon Sisters, Wayne Newton, Perry Como, and Dinah Shore.
[5] In addition to the artists already mentioned, his songs have been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Rosemary Clooney, Al Jarreau and Nat King Cole.
He began his songwriting career in Paramount Pictures' music department, and by the mid-1940s, was writing songs recorded by artists including Nat King Cole and Boyd Raeburn.
Later in Segal's career he wrote songs for television and taught songwriting at Cal State Northridge and in University of Southern California continuing education classes.