Max Charles Freedman (né Friedman; January 8, 1893 – October 8, 1962)[1] was an American songwriter and lyricist, best remembered for co-writing the song "Rock Around the Clock" .
Freedman was born in Philadelphia, and became a radio announcer, writer and entertainer, before joining the staff of a music publishing company.
One of his first successes as a writer, credited as Ray Freedman, was "Sioux City Sue", a hit record for the song's co-writer Dick Thomas in 1945, and later recorded by many others including Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Bob Wills and Willie Nelson.
[3] His other successful songs, several of which were written with Morty Berk and Frank Capano, included "Dreamy Old New England Moon", "Heartbreaker" (1947), and "Tea Leaves" (1948).
[4][5] Freedman is credited as co-writer of the landmark song "Rock Around the Clock" with "Jimmy DeKnight", a pseudonym used by music publisher and promoter James E.