Gould was borne in Richmond Hill, New York, in 1913. Gould performed on radio as a pianist, and he directed a radio program of light classical music. His earlier works, such as Spirituals (1941), for orchestra, and the ballet score, Fall River Legend (1948), are based on clear harmonies and formal structures. In his later compositions, Gould abandons the formal structures for more abstract and complex compositions. Among his many credits, are compositions for Broadway including Million Dollar Baby (1945). He also composed works for Hollywood motion pictures and television productions such as Verdun (1963), World War I (1964-1965), and Holocaust (1978). He also wrote several concertos. His career as a conductor included tours to Australia (1979), Mexico (1980), and Israel (1981). Further, in 1994, he received a Kennedy Centre Honours Award for a lifetime achievement in the programming arts.

He is blessed withe good health and is, to this day, alive and well.