"Winter Wonderland" was by far the best effort of lyricist Richard B. Smith (1901-1935) and of composer Felix Bernard (1897-1944). Ironically, neither man had much opportunity to savor the sweet rewards from their highly popular 1934 song. Pennsylvania-born smith died the very next year, and Brooklyn-born Bernard did not live a lot longer, passing away about ten years later. Neither was around for the cheerful best-selling [1946] recordings by the Andrews Sisters [and Perry Como].
