Alan Menken



 Alan Menken  ( b . 1949 ) is an Academy Award - winning composer famous for writing songs from Disney movies such as The Little Mermaid & Beauty & the Beast. Menken also wrote the music for the 1982 musical Little Shop of Horror s, which was adapted into a feature film directed by  FRANK OZ  in 1986.

Early in his career, Menken was a piano accompanist for Northern Calloway before composing for SESAME STREET around the 21st season. His SESAME STREET songwriting credit s include the songs "  GROUCH  elot ", as well as "  It ' s Gonna G e t Dirty A g a i n  " , " Martian Family ( Yip Yip S o ng ) " and " Todos un Pueblo " Menken says of his time on the Street , " It was pathetic money , but it still had some prestige to it . It was on the air & I was getting some royalties . "

Menken & longtime collaborator Ashman Howard Ashman also wrote the song " Wonderful Ways to Say No " for the 1990 animated TV special Cartoon All - Stars to the Rescue. The song was performed by an all - star cast of characters, including Baby  Kermit  , Baby  Piggy  , & Baby  Gonzo .