Earl tried to break into Hollywood but 1. He was blacklisted and 2. Highly stylized in his oratorio approach to composing. Jerry Fried, a successful film composer attempted to help Earl gain a foothold but Earl was a square peg in a Hollywood round hole.

I had the honor of working with him a couple of times. He always called me "Frankie" since when I knew him, I was young.

I grew up listening to "Lonesome Train" and "Ballad for Americans" as did many others.
Earl had a chorus or two out in California.

Millard Lampell was one of Harry Belafonte's first accompanists.

Earl was very close to Lee Hays and hosted Lee as a permanent visitor in his home, Lee having the upstairs bedroom in Brooklyn Heights.

Earl was originally from Seattle and died tragically,there, in an auto accident in his eighties.