Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

October 10, 1908 in New York City, NY

Death

:

May 15, 1989 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre

:

Film

 

 

Vocal

 

Johnny Green was an American composer, arranger, and conductor who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on October 10, 1908, in New York City, Green was the son of a vaudeville performer and grew up surrounded by music. He began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Green's musical career began in the 1920s when he started playing piano in dance bands. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled musician and arranger, and in 1929, he joined the orchestra of Paul Whiteman, one of the most popular bandleaders of the time. Green's work with Whiteman helped him gain recognition as a talented arranger, and he soon began working with other prominent bandleaders, including Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. In the 1930s, Green began working in Hollywood as a composer and arranger for film scores. He worked on a number of notable films, including "Top Hat" (1935), "Swing Time" (1936), and "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). Green's work on "The Wizard of Oz" earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow," which he co-wrote with lyricist E.Y. Harburg. Green continued to work in Hollywood throughout the 1940s and 1950s, composing and arranging music for films such as "An American in Paris" (1951) and "Raintree County" (1957). He also worked as a conductor, leading orchestras for films and television shows. In addition to his work in Hollywood, Green was also a respected conductor and arranger in the world of classical music. He conducted the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and he arranged music for a number of prominent classical musicians, including violinist Jascha Heifetz and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. One of Green's most notable achievements in the world of classical music was his work on the album "Rhapsody in Blue," which he arranged and conducted for pianist Oscar Levant. The album, which was released in 1945, featured a number of George Gershwin's most famous compositions, including "Rhapsody in Blue" and "An American in Paris." The album was a critical and commercial success and helped to cement Green's reputation as a talented arranger and conductor. Throughout his career, Green received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. In addition to his Academy Award for "Over the Rainbow," he also received a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for his work on the album "West Side Story" (1961). He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984. Green continued to work in music until his death on May 15, 1989, at the age of 80. His contributions to the world of classical music and Hollywood film scores continue to be celebrated and remembered today.

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