Johnny Mandel
Johnny Mandel, born John Alfred Mandel on November 23, 1925, in New York City, was a renowned American composer and arranger known for his work in pop, film music, jazz, and folk genres. He passed away on June 29, 2020, in Ojai, California. Mandel's illustrious career spanned from 1938 to 2020, during which he collaborated with legendary musicians such as Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and Barbra Streisand, among others. He was a five-time Grammy Award winner from 17 nominations and also received an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "The Shadow of Your Smile," co-written with Paul Francis Webster.
Mandel's early life was deeply influenced by his musical family; his mother, an aspiring opera singer, discovered his perfect pitch at age five. After moving to Los Angeles during the Great Depression, Mandel pursued music education at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. He began his career playing trumpet and trombone in various big bands, including those led by Joe Venuti, Boyd Raeburn, and Buddy Rich.
In the late 1940s and early 50s, Mandel transitioned to arranging and composing for radio and television, eventually moving to the West Coast to arrange for stars like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. His film career began with the jazz score for "I Want to Live!" in 1958, leading to numerous film scores, including "The Sandpiper" and "M*A*S*H," for which he composed the iconic theme "Suicide Is Painless."
Mandel's contributions to music extended beyond composition; he was a sought-after arranger for artists like Natalie Cole and Diana Krall. His legacy as one of the finest arrangers of the 20th century is cemented by his work with a wide range of vocalists and his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010.
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