Jeff Alexander

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For the American football running back, see Jeff Alexander (American football).
Jeff Alexander
Birth name Myer Goodhue Alexander
Born (1910-07-02)July 2, 1910
Seattle, Washington
Origin Seattle, Washington
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Whidbey Island, Washington
Occupation(s) Conductor, arranger, composer
Instruments Piano

Jeff Alexander (July 2, 1910 – December 23, 1989) was an American conductor, arranger, and composer of film, radio and television scores.

Early years

Born Myer Goodhue Alexander in Seattle, Washington, Alexander began performing in his teens as a singer and dancer in vaudeville productions.[1] He then began playing piano and composing big band music.

Radio

In 1939, he moved to New York City, where he arranged and composed music for radio programs, including Benny Goodman's Camel Caravan (as "Myer Alexander"), "The Lucky Strike Show" and "Amos 'n' Andy".

Alexander directed the orchestra for Songs of George Byron,[2] Arthur's Place,[3] Thirty Minutes to Play,[4] the Bill Goodwin Show,[5] and the Borden Show.[6]

He directed the chorus for The Star Theater,[7] Great Moments in Music[8] and (billed as Myer Alexander) the Goodman program.[9] His Goodman group was called "the world's only Swing Chorus."[10]

Film

In 1947, he moved to Los Angeles and began writing film and, later, television scores. His first film project was the score for Shall We Dance,[1] and he scored many of Elvis Presley's films, including Jailhouse Rock (1957), Kid Galahad (1962), Double Trouble (1967), Clambake (1967) and Speedway (1968). He also composed the scores to over 30 films, including The Tender Trap (1955), Ransom! (1956), The Wings of Eagles (1957), The Sheepman (1958), Party Girl (1958), The Mating Game (1959), The Gazebo (1959), All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960), The George Raft Story (1961), The Rounders (1965), Day of the Evil Gun (1968), Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) and Dirty Dingus Magee (1970).

Television

Alexander's many television credits include being musical director for Please Don't Eat the Daisies[11] and music for Family Affair, Julia, and Columbo. He wrote the song "Come Wander With Me" for an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1964; it was later used in the 2003 film The Brown Bunny.[12]

Compositions

In 1956, Alexander contributed the tone poems "Yellow" and "Brown" to the album Frank Sinatra Conducts Tone Poems of Color. He also composed a symphony and other classical pieces.

Business venture

In 1944, Alexander and Lyn Murray, along with business manager Eugene Loewenthal, formed Murray-Alexander Associates in New York City. The business provided vocal groups, orchestras, and arrangements.[13]

Death

Alexander died of cancer[1] at his home[14] in Whidbey Island, Washington on December 23, 1989.[15] He was survived by his daughter, Jill.[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links


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