Billy Goldenberg

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Billy Goldenberg
Birth nameWilliam Leon Goldenberg
Born(1936-02-10)February 10, 1936
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, US
DiedAugust 3, 2020(2020-08-03) (aged 84)[1]
New York City, New York, US
GenresFilm score
Occupation(s)Composer, songwriter
Years active1968–2017

William Leon Goldenberg (February 10, 1936 – August 3, 2020) was an American composer and songwriter, best known for his work on television and film.[2]

Early life

Goldenberg was born in February 10, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, New York. His mother played the violin, and she taught him how to play the violin and the viola.[3] Then he played it in chamber and symphonic groups. His father was a staff percussionist at WOR and the NBC Symphonic Orchestra. At age five, he played piano and sang Broadway shows.

He wanted a musical career but since his father was laid off, he was dissuaded in the early 1950s. Instead of attending

Columbia College
.

Career

After college, Goldenberg was a computer programmer, but he quit the job due to an ulcer. He found work as a pianist and arranger.[4] He was hired to write the soundtrack for comedy sketches of Mike Nichols and Elaine May in the Broadway show, An Evening with Nichols and May.

In the mid-1960s, Goldenberg met

Universal Studios. He started to compose music for Spielberg's television episodes on shows such as The Name Of The Game, Night Gallery and the 1971 TV film, Duel.[3] His other film scores included the Elvis Presley film Change of Habit (1969), The Grasshopper (1970), Red Sky at Morning (1971), The Last of Sheila (1973), Busting (1974), The Domino Principle (1977) and Reuben, Reuben (1983). He also wrote music for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Columbo, and the first two episodes of Kojak
, including the theme tune.

Additionally he wrote scores for

(1989).

References

  1. ^ Burlingame, Jon (August 5, 2020). "Billy Goldenberg, Emmy-Winning Composer and Songwriter, Dies at 84". yahoo.com. Variety. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Corry, John (December 10, 1978). "The Footwork Behind 'Ballroom'". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b Sandomir, Richard (August 16, 2020). "Billy Goldenberg, TV, movie and stage composer, dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "William L. "Billy" Goldenberg '57, TV, Film and Stage Composer". Columbia College Today. Columbia University. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021 – via college.columbia.edu.

External links