Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

October 28, 1922 in Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Death

:

December 10, 2019 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Gershon Kingsley was a classical music composer who was born on October 28, 1922, in Bochum, Germany. He was the son of a Jewish family and grew up in a musical household. His father was a cantor, and his mother was a pianist. Kingsley began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. In 1933, when Kingsley was 11 years old, the Nazi party came to power in Germany. As a result, his family was forced to flee the country. They moved to Palestine, where Kingsley continued his musical education. He studied at the Jerusalem Conservatory of Music and later at the Paris Conservatory. In 1947, Kingsley moved to the United States and settled in New York City. He began working as a pianist and arranger for various musical acts, including the comedian Danny Kaye. In the 1950s, he became interested in electronic music and began experimenting with synthesizers and other electronic instruments. Kingsley's breakthrough came in 1969 with the release of his album "Music to Moog By." The album featured Kingsley's compositions played on the Moog synthesizer, which was a relatively new instrument at the time. The album was a commercial success and helped to popularize electronic music. One of the most famous tracks on the album was "Popcorn," which was later covered by the band Hot Butter and became a hit single. The track featured a catchy melody played on the Moog synthesizer and became a staple of the electronic music genre. Kingsley continued to compose and perform electronic music throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He released several albums, including "First Moog Quartet" and "The Incredible Moses Leroy." He also composed music for films and television shows, including the theme song for the television show "The Bugaloos." In addition to his work in electronic music, Kingsley also composed classical music. He wrote several operas, including "Raoul," which was based on the life of the French poet Arthur Rimbaud. He also wrote several symphonies and chamber music pieces. Kingsley's music was known for its innovative use of electronic instruments and its catchy melodies. He was a pioneer in the field of electronic music and helped to popularize the genre. His music has been sampled by numerous artists, including Moby and Fatboy Slim. Kingsley died on December 10, 2019, at the age of 97. He was remembered as a groundbreaking composer who pushed the boundaries of music and helped to create a new genre of electronic music. His legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans of electronic music around the world.

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