Ken Darby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ken Darby
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| Born |
Kenneth Lorin Darby
May 13, 1909 Hebron, Nebraska, U.S.
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| Died | January 24, 1992 (aged 82) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) |
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Vera Matson
(m. 1932–1992) |
Kenneth Lorin Darby (born May 13, 1909 – died January 24, 1992) was an American musician. He was a talented composer, who wrote music, and a vocal arranger, who helped singers sound their best. He also wrote lyrics for songs and worked as a conductor, leading musical groups.
Ken Darby won three Academy Awards and one Grammy Award for his amazing work in movies. He even provided the voice for the mayor of Munchkinland in the classic film The Wizard of Oz (1939). He also wrote a book about the home of a famous fictional detective named Nero Wolfe.
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Ken Darby's Early Life
Kenneth Lorin Darby was born in a town called Hebron, Nebraska. His birthday was May 13, 1909. His parents were Lorin Edward Darby and Clara Alice Powell. Ken Darby was married to Vera Matson for a long time, from 1932 until he passed away in 1992.
Ken Darby's Music Career
Ken Darby led his own singing group called The Ken Darby Singers. They sang backup for the famous singer Bing Crosby. One of their most well-known recordings was the original 1942 version of "White Christmas."
In 1940, The Ken Darby Singers also worked on the very first album of songs from The Wizard of Oz. Ken Darby had already worked on the movie itself. Even though it wasn't the exact movie soundtrack, it did feature Judy Garland, who starred in the film.
Ken Darby was also part of a vocal group called "The King's Men." This quartet recorded songs with Paul Whiteman's orchestra in the 1930s. They were also the main singers on the popular radio show Fibber McGee and Molly from 1940 to 1953. For Christmas episodes of the show, Ken Darby wrote a musical version of "A Visit from St. Nicholas." The King's Men performed it, and it was called "T'was the Night Before Christmas."
The King's Men also sang in several movies made by MGM, including The Wizard of Oz. They even appeared in some Tom and Jerry cartoons! In the movie Honolulu, The King's Men pretended to be the Marx Brothers in a funny musical scene. Ken Darby also created the theme song and music for the TV shows The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955-61) and The Adventures of Jim Bowie.
Ken Darby worked as a composer and production supervisor for Walt Disney Studios. He was also the choral and vocal director for the 1946 Disney movie Song of the South.
He helped famous actress Marilyn Monroe with her singing. He was her vocal coach for the movies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and There's No Business Like Show Business (1954).
Ken Darby was the main composer of the 1956 Elvis Presley hit song "Love Me Tender." This song was for the movie of the same name. However, he gave the rights to the song to his wife, Vera Matson. So, her name appears as a co-writer along with Elvis Presley. The song was based on an older Civil War-era song called "Aura Lee." Elvis Presley's name was added as a writer to encourage him to record the song.
Ken Darby was a big fan of Nero Wolfe, a fictional detective created by Rex Stout. He wrote a book about Wolfe's home called The Brownstone House of Nero Wolfe (1983).
Ken Darby passed away on January 24, 1992. He was working on his last book, Hollywood Holyland: The Filming and Scoring of 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' , when he died. He is buried at the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Awards and Achievements
Ken Darby won many awards for his musical talents in movies.
Academy Awards
The Academy Awards are also known as the Oscars. They are given for excellence in filmmaking.
- 1956: He won for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for The King and I. He shared this award with Alfred Newman.
- 1958: He was nominated for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for South Pacific. He shared this nomination with Alfred Newman.
- 1959: He won for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for Porgy and Bess. He shared this award with André Previn.
- 1961: He was nominated for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for Flower Drum Song. He shared this nomination with Alfred Newman.
- 1963: He was nominated for Best Original Music Score for How the West Was Won. He shared this nomination with Alfred Newman.
- 1967: He won for Best Score – Adaptation or Treatment for Camelot. He shared this award with Alfred Newman.
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are given for outstanding achievements in the music industry.
- 1960: He won for Best Soundtrack Album, Original Cast, Movie or Television for Porgy and Bess. He shared this award with André Previn.
See also
In Spanish: Ken Darby para niños
