Elias was the first rabbi and cantor at Temple Beth Medrosh Hagadol in Denver.

[1] Samuels showed an early proclivity to music, and his father hoped he would also choose a career as a cantor.

[4][5][6] He worked the longest as the Hollywood manager for the publishing firm Bregman, Vocco, & Conn from 1949 until 1967.

[7] Samuels was a prolific songwriter throughout his entire life, writing popular songs in a variety of genres, production pieces, music for film, and ad jingles.

Samuels collaborated with a number of other composers and lyricists, including Johnny Mercer, Caesar Petrillo, Art Kassel, and Charley Straight.