Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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ROSE, David

(b 15 June 1910, London; d 23 August 1990, Burbank CA) Composer, conductor. Sources disagree on birth date; ASCAP says 3 June 1915. To USA at age four, grew up in Chicago. He worked with Jack Hylton in USA '36, arranged Benny Goodman hit 'It's Been So Long' that year; arranging and radio work took him to the Hollywood studios. He had a big hit '43 on Victor with his own 'Holiday For Strings'; 'Poinciana (Song Of The Tree)' '44 was not his own tune (probably recorded earlier, became a hit during the musicians' strike when records were not being made). He was married '38-41 to actress/comedienne/singer Martha Raye (b Margaret Teresa Yvonne Reed, 27 August 1916, Butte MT; d 19 October 1994), backed her on her only hit record 'Melancholy Mood' '39; he was also married to Judy Garland '41-3.

He was composer/conductor of USAAF show Winged Victory, on Broadway and filmed '43-4. Lesser instrumental hits on MGM '55-8 included 'Calypso Melody', written by Larry Clinton; also with Andre Previn on Previn's 'Like Young' '59; then a no. 1 hit with 'The Stripper' '62, a brilliant piece of work: it was only written c.1961, now almost impossible to imagine strippers without it. Other tunes included 'Dance Of The Spanish Onion'; also 32 piano solos collectively called Music For Moderns. Radio and TV work with Tony Martin, comedian Red Skelton etc; much incidental music for films; backed Connie Francis etc on hits.