Rivers of a Lost Coast

Fishermen Bios

Mel Leven

Mel ‘Hollywood’ Leven, derived his well-known nickname for his contributions to numerous Hollywood films over his 40 year career as a lyricist/composer. Hollywood fished the world, leaving few rocks unturned, but his most beloved rivers were those of Northern California. A natural entertainer, Hollywood was the life of the party. Sliding into a broken down piano, he’d entertain his fellow fishermen with songs he’d written for Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole and Dean Martin. Hollywood fished the North Coast for over 50 years and was featured in Dan Landeen’s Steehead Fly Fishing in Nez Perce Country. Hollywood lost his fight with kidney failure and pneumonia in December of 2007; he is cherished and missed by his many friends.

< < Back to main Bios