Jeff Moss facts for kids

Jeff Moss (born June 19, 1942 – died September 25, 1998) was a talented American writer and musician. He is most famous for his amazing work on the children's TV show Sesame Street. He wrote many songs and stories for the show.

Early Life and Education

Jeff Moss was born in New York City. His father, Arnold Moss, was an actor in plays and movies. His mother, Stella Reynolds, became a writer for TV soap operas.

Jeff went to the Browning School, a well-known private school in New York. He was a top student there.

College Years

After high school, he attended Princeton University. He was part of the Princeton Triangle Club, a theater group. In 1963, he graduated from Princeton.

He then got a job as a helper on the children's TV show Captain Kangaroo. He once said he turned down a job at CBS News because he had "seen the news."

Working on Sesame Street

In 1969, Jeff Moss became a very important part of Sesame Street. He was the first head writer, composer, and lyricist for the show. This means he helped create many of the show's stories and songs.

He won fourteen Emmy Awards for his work on Sesame Street. These awards celebrate excellence in television.

Famous Songs and Characters

Jeff Moss wrote many popular songs for the show. Some of these include "I Love Trash", "People in Your Neighborhood", and "Rubber Duckie". The song "Rubber Duckie" became a big hit in 1970. It even reached number 16 on the Billboard music chart.

He also helped create the character of Cookie Monster. This famous puppet was based on an idea by Jim Henson.

Jeff Moss wrote the song "Nasty Dan" for Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash sang it when he appeared on Sesame Street. The song later appeared on Johnny Cash's children's album. In France, a singer named Claude François made it a number one hit with French words.

In 1984, Jeff Moss wrote the music and songs for the movie The Muppets Take Manhattan.

Other Creative Projects

In the late 1970s, Jeff Moss wrote a musical play called Double Feature. It got good reviews when it first opened. However, it closed quickly when it moved to New York City.

Children's Books

Jeff Moss also wrote many books for children. Some of his book titles include:

• The Butterfly Jar (1989)
• The Other Side of the Door (1991)
• Bob and Jack: A Boy and His Yak (1992)
• Hieronymus White: A Bird Who Believed That He Always Was Right (1994)
• The Dad of the Dad of the Dad of Your Dad (1997)
• Bone Poems (1998)

He also wrote books that were part of the Sesame Street series. These included The Sesame Street Book of Poetry and The Sesame Street Songbook.

Awards and Recognition

Jeff Moss won fourteen Emmy Awards for his television work. In 1984, he was also nominated for an Academy Award. This nomination was for the music and songs he wrote for The Muppets Take Manhattan.

In 2007, Princeton University honored him. They named him one of their most important former students. They recognized how his songs and characters impacted the audience of Sesame Street.

Later Life and Legacy

Jeff Moss was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1994. He passed away on September 25, 1998, at 56 years old.

He is remembered by his wife, Anne Boylan, and his son, Alexander Moss. The 30th season of Sesame Street was dedicated to his memory. His work continues to bring joy and learning to children around the world.

See also

• Joe Raposo