American arranger and composer. Born: 30 August 1901 in Brookline, Massachusetts Died: 17 June 1962 in Pacific Palisades, California
MGMs most prominent orchestrator of musicals in the 1940s and 1950s. Along with Johnny Green, he is credited with giving the best M-G-M musicals of those years the orchestral sound quality that they had.
Graduated from Harvard in 1923. Studied orchestration at the Paris Conservatoire in France under Andre Gedalge. Returned to New York in 1929. Took job as arranger for Harms music publishing company. Worked as arranger for Broadway shows, 1932-1937. At MGM from 1939, under long term contracts, as orchestrator or composer of background music, between 1943 and 1957. Often in collaboration with Roger Edens and under the auspices of Arthur Freed s production unit.
