“Composer-arranger Sid Ramin, a longtime associate of Leonard Bernstein who won an Oscar, an Emmy and a Grammy for his work in film, TV and theater, died of natural causes Monday (July 1) at his home in New York City. He was 100,” writes Jon Burlingame in Tuesday’s (7/2) Variety. “Ramin won a 1961 Academy Award for adapting the music of ‘West Side Story,’ which he had originally orchestrated for composer Leonard Bernstein on Broadway in 1957 (with fellow arranger Irwin Kostal)…. Ramin’s musical career encompassed every aspect of show business. He started in the early days of live television … [and] began working on Broadway with Bernstein’s ‘Wonderful Town’ in 1953.… ‘West Side Story’ launched a second career for Ramin, doing theater orchestrations for more than a dozen musicals.… Ramin composed or arranged some of the most famous spots in advertising history.… The often-performed ‘Symphonic Dances From West Side Story’ is one of a number of large-scale works orchestrated by Ramin for symphony orchestras…. He was born Jan. 22, 1919, in Boston.… He attended Boston University, the New England Conservatory and Columbia University…. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Gloria; and son Ron, also a composer.”
Posted July 8, 2019
