Lionel Newman

Lionel Newman (January 4, 1916 – February 3, 1989) was an American conductor, pianist, and film and television composer. He won the Academy Award for Best Score of a Musical Picture for Hello Dolly! with Lennie Hayton in 1969. Newman was one of ten children, the youngest of seven boys, born to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. While the family had little money, the children's mother, Luba, was a strong woman who encouraged them to achieve. Newman migrated to Hollywood where, at the age of 16, he began conducting for impresario Earl Carroll. This was where he met his future wife, Beverly Carroll, an Earl Carroll Vanities showgirl, and niece of the impresario. Newman had formal training in New York, and after moving to Los Angeles, he continued his studies with Joseph Achron and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco.

In the 1930s, Newman earned his stripes conducting national tours and working as the piano accompanist for Mae West. She used to scold him for holding his hands too high in the pit saying, "I'm the show, Newman, not you."

At the age of 18, he obtained a job playing piano on the Holland America ocean liner, the S.S.Rotterdam, with his "Newman's Society Orchestra". This trip had great significance for him; he had always wanted to make another such trip to find his mother's home.

Career at 20th Century Fox After serving an apprenticeship conducting and orchestrating live shows, Newman joined 20th Century Fox as a rehearsal pianist under the guidance of his brother, Alfred Newman, and by 1959, he had been promoted to musical director for Television there. This opened the doors to feature films. He was soon made vice president in charge of music for both television and features. This resulted in a promotion in 1982 to senior vice president of all music for Twentieth Century Fox Films. He wrote several classic TV themes for Fox, including The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Adventures in Paradise, and Daniel Boone. He also composed the 1979 and 1982 fanfares for Fox.

Lionel Newman's tenure with Twentieth Century Fox spanned 46 years with over 200 films to his credit, including How to Marry a Millionaire, North to Alaska, The Proud Ones, Road House, and Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley's first picture). He was musical director for all of Marilyn Monroe's films at Fox, in accordance with her request, including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, There's No Business Like Show Business, River of No Return, and Let's Make Love, with the exception of Bus Stop which was directed and conducted by his brother, Alfred Newman and There's No Business Like Show Business which was co-directed and co-conducted by Alfred Newman.

In November 2013, the Twentieth Century Fox Music Department was dedicated as “The Lionel Newman Music Building,” and a bronze plaque of Lionel, listing his composition and conducting credits was unveiled. Speaking to guests about Lionel's impact on film and television music, who he was as a friend, mentor and boss, and who he was as a family man were Steven Spielberg, John Williams, Lionel's nephew, composer Randy Newman, and his grandson, Joey Newman. The dedication was attended by several hundred people, including his family beyond Randy and Joey.

Awards and nominations He received eleven Academy Award nominations, and won an Oscar for Hello Dolly! with Lennie Hayton in 1969. He conducted the scores for Cleopatra, The Sand Pebbles, The Agony and the Ecstasy, The Long Hot Summer, The Young Lions, Alien, and The Omen. He was the musical supervisor for Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Monsignor, and The Fury. Although he did not consider himself a songwriter, he received a certificate of merit from Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) for over one million network performances of his 1948 hit, "Again", a pop standard that lived on long after its introduction in the film Road House.

Work with other composers Newman's wit and humor were famous around the film capital. Frank Sinatra, in his biography, called Newman one of the funniest men in Hollywood. Jerry Goldsmith recalls in his biography how Newman used to call him "Gorgeous". Goldsmith also recounts that Newman nicknamed John Williams "Little Dimitri", after Dimitri Tiomkin.

Newman was a perfectionist, always making "just one more take" if some little detail could be improved. He wanted the Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra to reach the level of a great symphony orchestra, and it did, especially when he conducted. He was instrumental in the careers of John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Dominic Frontiere, Pat Williams, and many more.

Personal life Newman was married to Beverly Carroll, who died October 21, 2010, and with whom he had three daughters.

Later life During the last few years of his tenure at Fox, Newman conducted major symphony orchestras in the United States, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand. Newman retired in 1985 and died on February 3, 1989, from cardiac arrest.

Filmography Year Title Director(s) Studio(s) Notes 1943 He Hired the Boss Thomas Z. Loring 20th Century Fox uncredited 1950 The Jackpot Walter Lang 20th Century Fox 1953 The Silver Whip Harmon Jones 20th Century Fox uncredited Powder River Louis King 20th Century Fox Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Howard Hawks 20th Century Fox uncredited 1954 Siege at Red River Rudolph Maté 20th Century Fox Princess of the Nile Harmon Jones 20th Century Fox uncredited The Gambler from Natchez Henry Levin 20th Century Fox Gorilla at Large Harmon Jones 20th Century Fox There's No Business Like Show Business Walter Lang 20th Century Fox uncredited 1956 The Killer Is Loose Budd Boetticher United Artists The Proud Ones Robert D. Webb 20th Century Fox A Kiss Before Dying Gerd Oswald United Artists The Last Wagon Delmer Daves 20th Century Fox Love Me Tender Robert D. Webb 20th Century Fox The Girl Can't Help It Frank Tashlin 20th Century Fox uncredited 1957 The Way to the Gold Robert D. Webb 20th Century Fox Bernardine Henry Levin 20th Century Fox Kiss Them for Me Stanley Donen 20th Century Fox 1958 Sing, Boy, Sing Henry Ephron 20th Century Fox The Bravados Henry King 20th Century Fox Mardi Gras Edmund Goulding 20th Century Fox uncredited 1959 Compulsion Richard Fleischer 20th Century Fox Say One for Me Frank Tashlin 20th Century Fox uncredited 1960 Let's Make Love George Cukor 20th Century Fox North to Alaska Henry Hathaway 20th Century Fox 1963 Move Over, Darling Michael Gordon 20th Century Fox 1964 The Pleasure Seekers Jean Negulesco 20th Century Fox 1965 Do Not Disturb Ralph LevyGeorge Marshall 20th Century Fox 1967 The St. Valentine's Day Massacre Roger Corman 20th Century Fox uncredited 1968 The Boston Strangler Richard Fleischer 20th Century Fox 1969 The Desperate Mission Earl Bellamy 20th Century Fox Hello Dolly Gene Kelly 20th Century Fox

Awards and nominations