Ralph Rainger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Rainger
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ralph Reichenthal |
| Born | October 7, 1901 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | October 23, 1942 (aged 41) near Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Composer |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1922–1942 |
Ralph Rainger (born Reichenthal; October 7, 1901 – October 23, 1942) was an American composer. He wrote many popular songs, especially for movies.
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About Ralph Rainger
Ralph Reichenthal was born in New York City, USA. Before becoming a famous composer, he first studied law. He earned his law degree from Brown University in 1926.
However, Ralph loved music from a young age. He had learned to play the piano and also went to the Institute of Musical Art in New York.
Early Music Career
Ralph started performing publicly as early as 1922. He played piano on radio shows in New York and New Jersey. He performed alone, played for singers, and sometimes played with another pianist.
He also made special piano rolls between 1922 and 1928. These rolls were used in player pianos to play music automatically. Sometimes he used his birth name, Reichenthal, and other times he used "Rainger," which became his stage name.
Ralph also worked as an arranger for a bandleader named Ray Miller. An arranger helps decide which instruments play which parts of a song. Ralph even led his own band in 1923.
Broadway and Hollywood
Ralph's first work on Broadway (New York's famous theater district) was in 1926. He played piano for a show called "Queen High." Later, he played for other shows like "Angela" and "Cross my Heart."
His first big hit song was "Moanin' Low" in 1929. He wrote it with Howard Dietz for a show called The Little Show. This song became very popular.
When movies started to include sound and music, Ralph moved to Hollywood. He worked with a lyricist (someone who writes song words) named Leo Robin. Together, they created many successful movie songs.
Famous Songs
Ralph Rainger wrote or helped write many well-known songs. Some of these include:
- "I Wished on the Moon"
- "Love in Bloom" (which became the theme song for comedian Jack Benny)
- "Faithful Forever"
- "Easy Living"
- "June in January"
- "Blue Hawaii"
In 1938, he and Leo Robin won an Academy Award for their song "Thanks for the Memory." This song was sung by Bob Hope in the movie The Big Broadcast of 1938.
Leo Robin, his songwriting partner, once explained that writing for movies was different. He said that movie songs needed to be simple and easy for everyone to understand. This was because movies were seen by people all over the world.
Helping Others
Ralph Rainger was also known for helping other musicians. For example, he paid a year's tuition in advance for the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg. This helped Schoenberg move his belongings from Paris to Los Angeles in 1933.
His Passing
Sadly, Ralph Rainger died in a plane crash in 1942. He was a passenger on a plane that crashed near Palm Springs, California. The plane collided with a military bomber in the air. Ralph was 41 years old. He left behind his wife, Elizabeth, and their three young children.
Movies with Ralph Rainger's Music
Ralph Rainger wrote music for many films. Here are some of them:
- 1930 - Tom Sawyer
- 1930 - The Virtuous Sin
- 1932 - The Big Broadcast
- 1932 - A Farewell to Arms
- 1932 - This Is the Night
- 1933 - A Bedtime Story
- 1933 - From Hell to Heaven
- 1933 - She Done Him Wrong
- 1933 - International House
- 1933 - Three-Cornered Moon
- 1934 - Kiss and Make-Up
- 1934 - Come on Marines
- 1934 - Bolero
- 1934 - All of Me
- 1934 - Little Miss Marker
- 1934 - Search for Beauty
- 1934 - Six of a Kind
- 1935 - The Devil Is a Woman
- 1935 - The Big Broadcast of 1936
- 1935 - Ruggles of Red Gap
- 1936 - The Big Broadcast of 1937
- 1936 - Rhythm on the Range
- 1936 - Rose of the Rancho
- 1936 - Poppy
- 1936 - Palm Springs
- 1936 - Three Cheers for Love
- 1937 - King of Gamblers
- 1937 - The Big Broadcast of 1938, which included the Academy Award-winning song "Thanks for the Memory"
- 1937 - Blossoms on Broadway
- 1937 - Hills of Old Wyoming
- 1937 - Ebb Tide
- 1937 - Swing High, Swing Low
- 1937 - Waikiki Wedding
- 1937 - Souls at Sea
- 1938 - Her Jungle Love
- 1938 - Artists and Models Abroad
- 1938 - Romance in the Dark
- 1938 - The Texans
- 1939 - Gulliver's Travels, which included the Academy Award nominated song "Faithful Forever"
- 1939 - $1000 a Touchdown
- 1941 - Cadet Girl
- 1941 - A Yank in the R.A.F.
- 1941 - Tall, Dark and Handsome
- 1941 - Rise and Shine
- 1941 - New York Town
- 1942 - Footlight Serenade
- 1942 - True to the Army
- 1942 - My Gal Sal
See also
In Spanish: Ralph Rainger para niños
- Category:Songs with music by Ralph Rainger
