Ferde Grofe

Born: March 27, 1892 in New York City - USA
Died: April 3, 1972 in Santa Monica, CA - USA

Grofe, the descendant of four generations of classical musicians, had an unusual life. After he ran away from home at age fourteen, and worked as a milkman, truck driver, helper in a book bindery, iron factory worker, piano player in a bar for $2 a night, and an accompanist. He also worked as an arranger for a jazz orchestra, a violinist for the Los Angeles Symphony, a conductor and a faculty member at the Juilliard School of Music where he taught orchestration. All of these varied experiences can be heard in his music; he liked to combine jazz rhythms and simple ballad-like tunes into his music.
He was also a gifted arranger and orchestrator. He orchestrated many piano works for other composers including Gershwin and Ravel.