Green, Johnny (John W) (1908–1989)

US composer, arranger, bandleader, and pianist. A serious musician, he composed and conducted orchestral music for stage concerts and films. He also conducted many symphony orchestras, and was lecturer and artist-in-residence at Harvard University in 1979 and 1981. Early in his career he worked as a music arranger for the movies, conducted orchestras, and accompanied singers. From the 1930s on he collaborated with such lyricists as E Y Harburg and Edward Heyman on many standards, including ‘Body and Soul’ (1930). He continued to conduct orchestras on tours and on radio and he was with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1942–58), first as a composer-conductor-arranger, later as music director. He won Academy Awards for his work on the MGM musicals Easter Parade (1948) and An American in Paris (1951).

Green was born in New York City. His interest in music dates from when he was three and saw a band concert for the first time. He began studying piano at the age of five, and by 13 he knew the basics of composition and orchestration. He enrolled at Harvard University at 15, and while there commenced his career as an orchestra leader and composer. Even before he graduated with a BA in 1928, he had enjoyed his first hit with ‘Coquette’ (1927), which featured lyrics by Gus Kahn. He left a job in his uncle's brokerage firm in 1928 and dedicated himself to music.