Howard Ashman (b. 1950-1991) is an Academy Award-winning lyricist famous for writing songs from Disney movies such as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Ashman also wrote the lyrics for the 1982 musical Little Shop of Horrors, which was adapted into a feature film by director Frank Oz in 1986.
Ashman and longtime collaborator Alan Menken also wrote the song "Wonderful Ways to Say No" for the 1990 animated TV special Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue. The song was performed by an all-star cast of characters, including the Muppet Babies.