André Previn

From Grokipedia

André George Previn (born Andreas Ludwig Priwin; April 6, 1929 – February 28, 2019) was a German-born American pianist, conductor, and composer renowned for his versatility across classical, jazz, and film music genres. Born in Berlin to a family of Jewish descent, Previn emigrated to the United States in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution, where he quickly established himself as a prodigious talent, beginning piano studies and composing at an early age. His early career in Hollywood involved arranging and scoring films for MGM, earning him four Academy Awards for Best Score, including for Gigi (1958), Porgy and Bess (1959), Irma la Douce (1963), and My Fair Lady (1964). Transitioning to classical music, Previn served as music director of major orchestras such as the Houston Symphony (1967–1969), Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (1976–1984), and London Symphony Orchestra (1968–1979), while also performing as a jazz pianist with figures like Charlie Parker and recording prolifically. A prolific composer of operas, concertos, and ballets, he amassed ten Grammy Awards over his lifetime and was appointed a Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1996 for his contributions to music.

In brief

André George Previn (; born Andreas Ludwig Priwin; April 6, 1929 – February 28, 2019) was a German and American conductor, composer, and pianist. His career had three facets: Hollywood films, jazz, and classical music. In each he achieved success, and the latter two were part of his life until the end.

In movies, he arranged and composed music. In jazz, he was a celebrated pianist, accompanist to singers, and interpreter of songs from the "Great American Songbook". In classical music, he also performed as a pianist but gained television fame as a conductor, and during his last thirty years created his legacy as a composer.