Burns, Ralph (1922- )

US musician and innovative modern jazz arranger. He played with Charlie Barnet as a pianist and arranger 1940-43, then Red Norvo in 1944. Joining Woody Herman as staff arranger 1944-54, he helped establish the distinctive style of Herman's First, Second, and Third Herds. In the late 1940s, Herman recorded Burns's highly-acclaimed compositions, ‘Summer Sequence’ and ‘Early Autumn’, the latter introducing Stan Getz.

He was born in Newton, Massachusetts, and attended the New England Conservatory of Music 1938-39. In 1955, Burns began working exclusively on commercial recording sessions with singers and for television and film soundtracks.

In 1999, Burns, together with Douglas Besterman, received a Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for Fosse!.