Hoffman had little apparent connection to Chicago. He was born in Minsk, Russia in 1902. He grew up in Seatte after emigrating there with his family in 1908 and he moved to New York in the 1920s before starting a career as a music composer. Besides the aforementioned songs, he also wrote songs for Disney's original "Cinderella" cartoon, including "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes," "The Work Song" and "So This Is Love."