Giant grew up in New York City and was known as Bill (Harvey) Zimmerman. He was part of the popular songwriting team Giant, Baum and Kaye, writing songs with Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye. The majority of their work was used in Presley movies, although their most popular recording was “(You’re The) Devil in Disguise” which reached No.3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No.1 on the U.K. singles chart in 1963. They were also credited with writing the American version of Osamu Tezuka’s anime “Kimba the White Lion” (1965). Giant became a realtor in Middlesex County, New Jersey in his later years. His other memorable name was Billy Merman, which he used between 1956-1966.