Jeff Moss

 Jeff Moss  ( June 19 th, 1942 - September 24th , 1998 ) was a head writer & composer - lyricist o n SESAME STREET. Some o f his best - known song s from the show in clude " Rubber Duckie ", "  I LOVE TRASH  " , " The Peo ple in Yo u r Neighborhood " , "  I  D o n ' t Want t o Live o n t h e M oon " and " Nasty Dan  ". In addition to songwriting, Moss helped to create Cookie Monster ,  OSCAR THE GROUCH  , & Guy Smiley.

Moss won 1 5 Emmys for his work & wrote the songs for 4 Grammy Award - winning records. When released as a single in 1970, " Rubber Duckie " sold more than a million copies. Moss ' songs were known internationally as well ; Claude François ' recording of " Nasty Dan  " went to number 1 on the pop chart in France.

Moss also composed the songs & score for The Muppets Take Manhattan, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Music , Original Song Score. The Oscar went to Prince for " Purple Rain ".

Moss wrote over a dozen be st - selling books under the SESAME STREET label, including The  SESAME   STREET  Book of Poetry. Several of his songs have been illustrated & published as well. He also wrote 3 collections of chil dren 's poetry & several short stories.

But then, most unfortunately , Jeff Moss passed away of cancer on September 24th , 1998. 1 of his last writing credits was the script for the Elmo ' s World segment " Music ".

The Muppets Take Manhattan
See also : The Muppets Take Manhattan soundtrack

Trivia

 * Moss also gave voice to several Anything Muppet singers on SESAME STREET, including namesakes Big Jeffy ( of Little Jerry & the Monotone s ) , & Jeffy ( who sang " I ' m Going t o Get My Hair Cut " with Cookie Monster ) . He also voiced a Lavender back - up singer for Little Chrissy & the Alphabeats.
 * Episode 3786 was dedicated in memory of Moss.

SESAME STREET Books

 * People in My Family ( 19 71 )
 * Peo ple in Yo ur Neighborhood ( 1971 )
 * The  SESAME   STREET  Story book ( 19 71 )
 *  Cookie   Monster  ' s Circle Book ( 1972 )
 * The  SESAME   STREET  1, 2 , 3 Storybook ( 1973 )
 * The  SESAME   STREET  ABC Storybook ( 19 74 )
 *  OSCAR  ' s Book  ( 1975 )
 * The  SESAME   STREET  Book of Fairy Tales ( 19 75 )
 * The  SESAME   STREET  Bedtime Storybook ( 19 78 )
 * The  SESAME   STREET  Library ( 19 78 - 19 79 )
 * People in My Family ( 19 83 )
 * The  SESAME   STREET  Treasury ( 19 83 )
 * The Songs of  SESAME   STREET  in Poems & Pictures ( 1983 )
 * The  SESAME   STREET  Book of Poetry ( 1992 )

Other Poetry Collections

 *  The Butterfly Jar 
 *  The Other Side of the Door 
 *  Bone Poems 

Other Short Stories

 *  Bob & Jack : A B oy & His Yak 
 *  Hieronymus White 
 *  Dad of the Dad of the Dad of Your Dad