Robert Maxwell (born Max Rosen; April 19, 1921 – February 7, 2012[1]) was an American harpist, songwriter, and teacher who wrote the music for two well-known songs: "Ebb Tide" and "Shangri-La" (originally a composition entitled "Fantasy for Harp").
This led to many appearances on radio, television, and the movies, including one summer as replacement for Frank Sinatra on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) network.
Maxwell went on to devising his own arrangements, and composed three songs for which he is remembered: "Little Dipper" (1959, recorded under the name The Mickey Mozart Quintet) peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100,[6] "Ebb Tide" (1953) was a perennial favorite, and "Shangri-La" was a hit in 1957 for The Four Coins and 1969 for The Lettermen.
Maxwell's own instrumental version, featuring an organ solo rather than his harp, which is heard in the introduction as well as in the coda of the song, reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.
Another of his songs, "Solfeggio," performed by Maxwell's orchestra and the Ray Charles Singers, gained unexpected fame as the theme for Ernie Kovacs's recurring comedy sketch, The Nairobi Trio.