Ralph Burns

Ralph Joseph P. Burns (June 29, 1922 – November 21, 2001) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.

Early life Burns was born in Newton, Massachusetts, Burns was inducted into the New England Jazz Hall of Fame in 2004.

Personal life and death Burns was gay, and carefully hid his homosexuality throughout his life.

On November 21, 2001, Burns died from complications of a recent stroke and pneumonia. He was 79 years old.

Burns was buried on April 13, 2002, in his hometown of Newton. He was survived by one sister, Nancy Lane (Burns), and three brothers, Leo, Joe, and Gael.

Filmography Composer

Rhapsody in Wood (with Woody Herman, 1947) Lenny (1974) Piaf (1974) Lucky Lady (1975) Movie Movie (1978) All That Jazz (1979) Make Me an Offer (TV, 1980) Urban Cowboy (1980) Golden Gate (TV, 1981) Pennies from Heaven (1981) Side Show (TV, 1981) Kiss Me Goodbye (1982) Lights, Camera, Annie! (TV, 1982) My Favorite Year (1982) The Phantom of the Opera (TV, 1983) Star 80 (1983) National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter (TV, 1984) The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) Moving Violations (1985) Perfect (1985) The Christmas Star (TV, 1986) Penalty Phase (TV, 1986) Amazing Stories (2 episodes, 1986–1987) "Magic Saturday" (TV Episode, 1986) "The 21-Inch Sun" (TV Episode, 1987) After the Promise (TV, 1987) In the Mood (1987) All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) Sweet Bird of Youth (TV, 1989) Bert Rigby, You're a Fool (1989)

Other

Winter Sequence (arrangements, 1954) Something More! (orchestrator, 1964) Sweet Charity (orchestrator, 1969) Move (orchestrator, 1970) Bananas (orchestrator, 1971) Pippin (orchestrator, 1971) Cabaret (conductor, arranger, supervisor, 1972) Lenny (music supervisor, 1974) Mame (musical director, orchestrator, 1974) New York, New York (conductor, supervisor, 1977) The World's Greatest Lover (orchestrator, 1977) High Anxiety (orchestrator, 1977) All That Jazz (conductor, arranger, supervisor, all uncredited, 1979) Baryshnikov on Broadway (music arranger, TV, 1980) Urban Cowboy (music adaptor, 1980) First Family (composer: additional music, uncredited, conductor, adaptor, 1980) Bring Back Birdie (orchestrator supervisor, 1981) Pippin: His Life and Times (music arranger, TV, 1981) History of the World: Part I (orchestrator: "The Spanish Inquisition", 1981) Annie (conductor, arranger, 1982) Jinxed! (reunion scene arranger and orchestrator, 1982) To Be or Not to Be (orchestrator, 1983) A Chorus Line (conductor, arranger, 1985) In the Mood (conductor, orchestrator, 1987) The Josephine Baker Story (TV, 1991) Life Stinks (dance orchestrator, 1991) The Addams Family (additional orchestrator, 1991) Fosse (orchestrator, TV, 2001)

Soundtracks Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (writer: "Early Autumn", 1997) Star 80 (music: "Overkill", "Off Ramp", "Improvise", "Funky"; lyrics: "Overkill", "Funky", 1983)

Awards and nominations