Phil Moore (jazz musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phil Moore
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Phil Moore and John O. Levy, c. 1947
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 20, 1918 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | May 13, 1987 (aged 69) Los Angeles, Calilfornia |
| Genres | Jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
Phil Moore (born February 20, 1918 – died May 13, 1987) was a talented American jazz pianist, music arranger, and bandleader. He helped many famous singers and actors become stars.
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The Early Life of Phil Moore
Phil Moore was born in Portland, Oregon. Sadly, he became an orphan and grew up in a county hospital. He loved music and studied at the Cornish School and the University of Washington in Seattle.
When he was only 13 years old, Phil was already playing piano. He performed in small clubs and venues in Portland.
Phil Moore's Amazing Music Career
In 1937, Phil Moore married Neva Mary Peoples, who was also a pianist and singer. He became a musical helper for many famous artists. He worked with stars like Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, and Bobby Short.
Phil also arranged music for big bands. He created special musical pieces for the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey and Harry James.
Working in Hollywood
In 1946, Phil Moore even acted in a short movie called Stars on Parade. He played the part of a band leader.
Phil was a vocal coach for many performers in Hollywood. This means he helped them learn how to sing and perform better. He worked with famous people like Dorothy Dandridge and Marilyn Monroe.
Phil Moore also worked at big movie studios like MGM and Paramount. He arranged music for over 30 films! Even though he did a lot of work, he often did not get credit for it in the movies. Some people think this was because of his race.
Some of the movies he worked on include Dumbo, Cabin in the Sky, and This Gun for Hire.
Touring and Recording Music
In the late 1940s, Phil Moore toured with his own group. It was called the Phil Moore Four. They played jazz and swing music.
He also recorded music for several record companies. These included RCA Victor, Musicraft, and Black & White Records.
Later in his career, from the late 1950s, Phil became very well-known for coaching singers. He helped both black and white singers improve their skills. He even started a school in New York called "For Singers Only."
In 1953, he recorded two special Christmas songs. They were called "Blink Before Christmas" and "Chinchy Old Scrooge." These songs used a lot of cool slang from the 1950s. They are now rare items that collectors look for!
Phil Moore passed away on May 13, 1987, in Los Angeles, California. He was 69 years old.
Phil Moore's Music Albums
Phil Moore created many albums as a band leader. Here are some of them:
- Dance and Dream with Phil Moore at the Piano, Volume 1 (1946)
- Eventide: Phil Moore Orchestra (1949)
- Reminiscing: Phil Moore at the Piano (1949)
- Music for Moderns (recorded 1947)
- Fantasy for Girl and Orchestra (recorded 1947, released 1956)
- Portrait of Leda (with Leda Annest, 1958)
- Polynesian Paradise (1959)
- Moore's Tour: An American in England (1959)
- New York Sweet (1963)
He also played on albums with other musicians. For example, he worked with Gil Fuller on the album Gil Fuller & the Monterey Jazz Festival Orchestra featuring Dizzy Gillespie in 1965.
Images for kids
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Phil Moore and John O. Levy, c. 1947
