Hugh Martin, the music composer and sometimes lyricist,  died Friday, March 11, 2011, at age 96. The cause of death was not given, according to Spinner.com, which added that Martin died at his home in Encinitas, Calif., near San Diego.

Besides writing "The Trolley Song" for the Judy Garland movie "Meet Me in St. Louis," Martin and his partner, Ralph Blane (who died in 1995), wrote two other songs for that 1944 classic movie: "The Boy Next Door" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

In 2007 "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was listed in a survey by ASCAP as still being the third most played Christmas song.

According to the article, "Born in Birmingham, Ala., on Aug. 11, 1914, Martin started writing for Broadway in 1941 with ‘Best Foot Forward’ and later with ‘Make a Wish,’ ‘High Spirits’ and ‘Hoorray for What!’ In 1944, Martin was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for ‘The Trolley Song’ and again in 1947 for his song ‘Pass the Peace Pipe’ from the film ‘Good News.’ Throughout his career, the composer also produced music for the films ‘Athena,’ ‘The Girl Most Likely,’ both starring Jane Powell, and the film version of his Broadway hit ‘Best Foot Forward,’ starring the comic legend Lucille Ball."

Here’s Frank Sinatra’s version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"