Jeff Moss

 Jeff Moss  ( June 19 th, 1942 - September 24th , 1998 ) was a head writer & composer - lyricist on Sesame Street. Some of his best - known songs from the show include " Rubber Duckie ", "  I LOVE TRASH  " , " The Peo ple in Yo ur Neighborhood " , " I Don't Want to Live on the Moon " , & " Nasty Dan  ". In addition to songwriting, Moss helped to create Cookie Monster ,  OSCAR THE GROUCH  , & Guy Smiley.

Moss won 15 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 best - 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 Monotones ) , & Jeffy ( who sang " I 'm Going to 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.

Author Credits

 * Sesame Street Books
 * People in My Family ( 1971 )
 * Peo ple in Yo ur Neighborhood ( 1971 )
 * The Sesame Street Storybook ( 1971 )
 * Cookie Monster 's Circle Book ( 1972 )
 * The Sesame Street 1, 2 , 3 Storybook ( 1973 )
 * The Sesame Street ABC Storybook ( 1974 )
 *  Oscar 's Book  ( 1975 )
 * The Sesame Street Book of Fairy Tales ( 1975 )
 * The Sesame Street Bedtime Storybook ( 1978 )
 * The Sesame Street Library ( 1978 - 1979 )
 * People in My Family ( 1983 )
 * The Sesame Street Treasury ( 1983 )
 * 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 Boy & His Yak 
 *  Hieronymus White 
 *  Dad of the Dad of the Dad of Your Dad