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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBURNS, Ralph(b 29 June '22, Newton MA; d 21 Nov. 2001) Piano, arranger, composer. New England Conservatory '37-9; worked for Charlie Barnet, Red Norvo early '40s; associated with Woody Herman for many years from early '44, played piano initially but also wrote first-class arrangements which, with those of Neal Hefti, formed the band's character: 'Bijou', 'Lady McGowan's Dream', 'Summer Sequence' (in four parts; part IV later became 'Early Autumn'). 'Head' arrangements such as 'Apple Honey' and 'Northwest Passage' also created to which all contributed, 'Ralph and Neal especially', according to Herman. Played with small groups and accompanied singers, toured Europe with Herman '54, wrote vocal arrangements for him '65, also much studio and commercial work. Having contributed defining elements of the sound of one of the best big jazz bands of the mid-20th century, in the studio he worked with Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis and others, but his Broadway work was a whole new career. He worked with Richard Rodgers on No Strings, with Jule Style on Funny Girl and with Bob Fosse on Sweet Charity, Dancin' and the film of Cabaret. He won Oscars for adapting the film scores of Cabaret and All That Jazz; his orchestrations for the Kit Kat Klub band in Cabaret helped make it one of the finest film musicals of the post-WWII period. He won a Tony '99 for Fosse, and shared an Emmy for Baryshnikov on Broadway. |