David Raksin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Raksin
Born	(1912-08-04)August 4, 1912 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	August 9, 2004(2004-08-09) (aged 92) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Film composer
Notable work	Laura (1944)

David Raksin (born August 4, 1912 – died August 9, 2004) was an American composer. He was famous for creating music for movies and TV shows. He wrote music for over 100 films and 300 TV shows! Because of his amazing work, people called him the "Grandfather of Film Music."

About David Raksin

David Raksin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. His family was Jewish and came from Russia. His father was a conductor, which means he led an orchestra.

David started playing music professionally in dance bands while he was still in high school. Later, he studied how to compose music at the University of Pennsylvania. He also learned from famous music teachers like Arnold Schoenberg. In New York, David worked as an arranger. This means he took existing songs and changed them to fit different instruments or groups.

His Famous Movie Music

One of David Raksin's first jobs in movies was helping Charlie Chaplin. He helped write the music for Chaplin's famous film, Modern Times (1936).

But David Raksin is probably best known for his music for the movie Laura (1944). The main song from "Laura" became a huge hit! A songwriter named Johnny Mercer added words to it. People say that "Laura" was the second most-recorded song ever, after "Stardust".

David Raksin also wrote the theme song for the 1953 movie The Bad and the Beautiful. This song was called "The Bad and the Beautiful" or "Love is For the Very Young." It was also a hit, but not as big as "Laura." David wanted this song to be only instrumental (without singing). He didn't want to share the money with a lyricist again, like he had to with "Laura."

At first, the director and producer of The Bad and the Beautiful didn't like the song. But two other famous writers, Adolph Green and Betty Comden, loved it and saved it from being rejected. Many famous composers, like Stephen Sondheim, later praised the song. Sondheim even said it was "one of the best themes ever written in films."

David Raksin also wrote music for the 1958 film Separate Tables. For this work, he was nominated for an Academy Award.

In the 1960s, David Raksin created the theme music for a TV show called Ben Casey. It was a medical drama. Later in his life, he taught music at universities like the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles.

David Raksin passed away in 2004 when he was 92 years old. He had finished writing a book about his life called If I Say So Myself. It was later published as The Bad and the Beautiful: My Life in a Golden Age of Film Music.

In 2012, David Raksin received a special award for his lifetime achievements as a film composer. His son, Alex, is also a talented writer. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his writing for the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

Movies and TV Shows with Music by David Raksin

His Work on Broadway

David Raksin also worked on Broadway shows, which are plays and musicals performed live.

• Thumbs Up! (1934) - a type of show called a revue - he helped arrange the music
• Parade (1935) - a revue - he helped arrange the music
• At Home Abroad (1935) - a revue - he helped arrange the music
• New Faces of 1936 (1936) - a revue - he helped arrange the music
• If the Shoe Fits (1946) - a musical - he was the composer
• Dream (1997) - a revue - his song "Laura" was featured

See also

In Spanish: David Raksin para niños

• The Film Music Society