Composer, songwriter, guitarist, accompanist, and 17-year music
supervisor for Bing Crosby. For twenty years he was associated with Al
Jolson and Eddie Cantor on radio and recordings, and he was a guitarist
with the orchestras of Paul Whiteman, John Scott Trotter, Victor Young,
and Johnny Green. He was a guitar soloist in films and in concerts and
on television. Joining ASCAP in 1950, his chief musical collaborator
was Preston Foster. His song compositions include "Two Shillelagh
O'Sullivan", "Duke of the Uke", "Ukey-Ukulele", "Pick-A-Lili",
"Executioner Theme", and "Waltz of the Hunter". He composed (and
sometimes performed) the background music for the first 2 seasons of
"The Beverly Hillbillies". Certain cues from those seasons are
accredited to both Botkin and series creator Paul Henning. "Elly May's
Theme" is one such title.
The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour(1957)as Guitar Player, Guitarist
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet(1952)as Perry, Perry Botkin
Pete Kelly's Blues(1955)as Tuxedo Band Member
Main Street to Broadway(1953)as Ukelele Player
Thank Your Lucky Stars(1943)as City Slicker Band
The Beverly Hillbillies(1962)
Murder by Contract(1958)
The Drop Out(1963)
The Ten Commandments(1956)
River of No Return(1954)
Niagara(1953)
Abie's Irish Rose(1946)
Supermensch(2013)
Al Assira(1978)
Saddle Pals(1947)
Cowboy Canteen(1944)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson(1962)as Self, Self - Guest
The Red Rowe Show(1959)as Self
General Electric Theater(1953)as Self - Guitarist
The Colgate Comedy Hour(1950)as Self - Banjo Player, Self - guitarist
House Party(1952)as Self