Albert Harris (composer)
Encyclopedia
Albert Harris worked most of his life in Hollywood as an orchestrator, arranger
and composer
for several of the big Film Studios and for such pop icons as Barbra Streisand
, Roberta Flack
and Cher
.
He studied piano from age 6 and was also a self-taught guitarist
; his knowledge of this instrument enabled him in later years to compose pieces specifically for guitar. He came to New York in 1938 at which time he started playing piano in big bands across the U.S., after which he began studying at New York University
’s College of Music where he earned a doctorate in music in 1944. Before earning his doctorate he moved to Los Angeles in 1942. Albert Harris studied composition with Mary Carr Moore
and Eugen Zador in Los Angeles, and conducting with Richard Lert
. He is a recipient of several awards for choral pieces, songs, and an octet for French Horn from the Los Angeles Horn Club. Albert Harris the professor of orchestration at UCLA. He was Assistant Musical Director for NBC
from 1946-49.
"Music Service Incorporated" (MSI) was formed by Mr. Harris and two colleagues (one of whom was Nelson Riddle
) and was responsible for the music for four TV Shows: "Mary Tyler Moore
— Dick Van Dyke Show," "Ray Bolger Show," "Danny Thomas Show," and "Andy Griffith Show."
He was music director for Barbra Streisand
on the TV special "Barbra and Other Instruments," music orchestrator and arranger for Cher
’s album "Bittersweet Moonlight" and was music arranger for Roberta Flack
for appearances in Hollywood.
Mr. Harris was the composer and conductor for Quinn Martin Productions, specifically "Cannon," "Barnaby Jones
," "Streets of San Francisco" and "FBI."
Over a period of 30 years, Mr. Harris was employed by all the major film studios as a renowned orchestrator and composer.
A popular teacher and lecturer in Los Angeles, he was invited to speak at the Santa Barbara Academy of the West by Darius Milhaud
. While he was president of the American Society of Music Arrangers (a post he held from 1989–91), he co-lectured at a composer’s workshop with Henry Mancini
.
Albert Harris was a member of Composers and Lyricists Guild of America, on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Music Arrangers. He won the National Composer's Award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
in 1979 for his "Concerto de California" scored for guitar and String Quartet. Among those nominating Harris was Aaron Copland
with whom Harris shares a harmonic language that, in the words of Ned Rorem
, "sounds like the great outdoors". Harris retired from film
and television
work in 1990.
He married Diane Smith, from New Zealand, in California in 1986, and the couple retired to New Zealand in 1992. He is survived by his wife Diane Harris and his sister Bette Friedman.
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
for several of the big Film Studios and for such pop icons as Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
and Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
.
He studied piano from age 6 and was also a self-taught guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
; his knowledge of this instrument enabled him in later years to compose pieces specifically for guitar. He came to New York in 1938 at which time he started playing piano in big bands across the U.S., after which he began studying at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
’s College of Music where he earned a doctorate in music in 1944. Before earning his doctorate he moved to Los Angeles in 1942. Albert Harris studied composition with Mary Carr Moore
Mary Carr Moore
Mary Carr Moore was an American composer, conductor, vocalist, and music educator of the twentieth century. She is best remembered today for her association with the musical life of the West Coast.-Early life:...
and Eugen Zador in Los Angeles, and conducting with Richard Lert
Richard Lert
Richard Lert was an American conductor of Austrian birth. Born in Vienna, he was the younger brother of stage director Ernst Lert. After graduating with a music degree from the University of Vienna, he took a conducting post at the Opernhaus Düsseldorf in 1910...
. He is a recipient of several awards for choral pieces, songs, and an octet for French Horn from the Los Angeles Horn Club. Albert Harris the professor of orchestration at UCLA. He was Assistant Musical Director for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from 1946-49.
"Music Service Incorporated" (MSI) was formed by Mr. Harris and two colleagues (one of whom was Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
) and was responsible for the music for four TV Shows: "Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore is an American actress, primarily known for her roles in television sitcoms. Moore is best known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show , in which she starred as Mary Richards, a 30-something single woman who worked as a local news producer in Minneapolis, and for her earlier role as...
— Dick Van Dyke Show," "Ray Bolger Show," "Danny Thomas Show," and "Andy Griffith Show."
He was music director for Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
on the TV special "Barbra and Other Instruments," music orchestrator and arranger for Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
’s album "Bittersweet Moonlight" and was music arranger for Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
for appearances in Hollywood.
Mr. Harris was the composer and conductor for Quinn Martin Productions, specifically "Cannon," "Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones is a television detective series starring Buddy Ebsen and Lee Meriwether as father- and daughter-in-law who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles. A spin-off from Cannon, the show ran on CBS from January 28, 1973 to April 3, 1980, beginning as a midseason replacement...
," "Streets of San Francisco" and "FBI."
Over a period of 30 years, Mr. Harris was employed by all the major film studios as a renowned orchestrator and composer.
A popular teacher and lecturer in Los Angeles, he was invited to speak at the Santa Barbara Academy of the West by Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
. While he was president of the American Society of Music Arrangers (a post he held from 1989–91), he co-lectured at a composer’s workshop with Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
.
Albert Harris was a member of Composers and Lyricists Guild of America, on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Music Arrangers. He won the National Composer's Award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in 1979 for his "Concerto de California" scored for guitar and String Quartet. Among those nominating Harris was Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
with whom Harris shares a harmonic language that, in the words of Ned Rorem
Ned Rorem
Ned Rorem is a Pulitzer prize-winning American composer and diarist. He is best known and most praised for his song settings.-Life:...
, "sounds like the great outdoors". Harris retired from film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
work in 1990.
He married Diane Smith, from New Zealand, in California in 1986, and the couple retired to New Zealand in 1992. He is survived by his wife Diane Harris and his sister Bette Friedman.
Selected filmography
- 1955 Kiss Me Deadly
- 1958 Showdown at Boot Hill, aka Shadow of Boot Hill
- 1958 Queen of Outer Space, aka Queen of the Universe
- 1960 Saiyu-ki, aka Alakazam the Great (USA), aka The Enchanted Monkey, aka The Magic Land of Alakazam (USA)
- 1961 Master of the World
- 1963 The Raven
- 1965 Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine
- 1966 The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini
- 1970 Dirty Dingus Magee
- 1974-1975 "Cannon" TV series, Man in the Middle, Voice from the Grave
- 1979 "The Curse of Dracula" TV series