Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson was an American composer, pianist, and organist, born on June 29, 1908, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Swedish parents. He received his early piano lessons from his mother, a church organist, and continued his musical education at the New England Conservatory of Music. Anderson attended Harvard College, where he studied various aspects of music, including harmony, counterpoint, orchestration, and composition, graduating magna cum laude in 1929. He furthered his studies at Harvard University Graduate School, earning a Master of Arts in Music in 1930.
Anderson's career gained momentum when his arrangements caught the attention of Arthur Fiedler, conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. His compositions, such as "Jazz Pizzicato" and "Jazz Legato," became signature pieces for the orchestra. During World War II, Anderson served in the United States Army, working in Iceland and later at the Pentagon, while continuing to compose music. His first major hit, "Blue Tango," released in 1951, became the first instrumental recording to sell over one million copies.
Known for his light orchestral music, Anderson's works, including "Sleigh Ride" and "The Syncopated Clock," achieved immense commercial success in the 1950s. He was described by John Williams as "one of the great American masters of light orchestral music." Anderson passed away on May 18, 1975, in Woodbury, Connecticut.
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