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Nacio Herb Brown

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Nacio Herb Brown (1896 to 1964) was an American composer of popular songs, film music and music for Broadway, active from the 1920s to the early 1950s. He was born Ignacio Herbert Brown in Deming, New Mexico. In 1901 the family moved to Los Angeles. He received his first music lessons from his mother.

Music and breakthrough

Brown first had a tailor's shop and then became a successful real estate agent, but he always wrote and played music. After his first hit, Coral Sea, in 1920 and a big hit, When Buddha Smiles, in 1921, he eventually became a full-time composer. In 1926 he joined ASCAP and wrote the piano piece The Doll Dance, followed by Rag Doll in 1928 and The Wedding of the Painted Doll in 1929.

Influence

In 1928 MGM hired him to write music in Hollywood for the new sound film. He often worked there with the lyricist Arthur Freed. His best-known work is the score of the musical film Singin' in the Rain of 1952, in which many of their songs return. He also appeared in The Hollywood Revue of 1929. On Broadway he worked with Richard Whiting and Buddy DeSylva, including on Take a Chance. Together with L. Wolfe Gilbert he wrote the music for the children's Western Hopalong Cassidy on television, which began in 1949. His songs show how Hollywood, in the transition from silent film to sound film, made a kind of pop of its own.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to the title song of Singin' in the Rain and notice how cheerful and simple the melody is, and how well the song suits a dance step.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists