Opera lyricist Arnold Sundgaard dead at 96

DALLAS, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Prolific playwright and opera lyricist Arnold Sundgaard has died at a retirement home in Dallas at the age of 96.

The Texas-based Sundgaard was best known for his work on the 1948 opera "Down in the Valley" and with resurrecting the old standard "Yellow Rose of Texas," which turned into a No. 1 hit for Mitch Miller in 1955.

He died of congestive heart failure on Oct. 22, the Los Angeles Times reported.

During his eclectic career, Sundgaard collaborated with composers including Alec Wilder, Kurt Weill and Douglas Moore. He also authored children's books including 1988's "The Lamb and the Butterfly."