Ralph Rainger ( Reichenthal; October 7, 1901 – October 23, 1942) was an American composer of popular music principally for films.

Biography

Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, United States, He had, however, studied piano from a young age and attended the Institute of Musical Art in New York. These were as soloist, accompanist to singers, and as duo-pianist with Adam Carroll or "Edgar Fairchild" (the name Milton Suskind used for commercial work).

He also prepared piano rolls between 1922 and 1928 for Ampico, Standard, and DeLuxe. Some of these used the "Reichenthal" surname, others the "Rainger" name he was gradually adopting commercially.

Other early musical activities include arranging for bandleader Ray Miller.

Rainger's first credit on Broadway, 1926's "Queen High", was as duo-pianist in the pit with Fairchild, following the show's break-in in Philadelphia. He later played for 1928's "Angela" and "Cross my Heart".

His first hit "Moanin' Low", with lyrics by Howard Dietz, was written for Clifton Webb's co-star Libby Holman in the 1929 revue The Little Show.

With the advent of motion picture sound and the film musical, Rainger and other songwriters found work in Hollywood. including "I'll Take An Option On You",

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Rainger paid one year's tuition fees to the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg in advance, so that Schoenberg could pay for the transportation of his belongings to Los Angeles from Paris in 1933.

Rainger died in a plane crash near Palm Springs, California, in 1942.

Film credits

Film credits include:

  • 1930 - Tom Sawyer
  • 1930 - The Virtuous Sin
  • 1932 - The Big Broadcast
  • 1932 - A Farewell to Arms
  • 1932 - This Is the Night
  • 1933 - A Bedtime Story
  • 1933 - From Hell to Heaven
  • 1933 - She Done Him Wrong
  • 1933 - International House
  • 1933 - Three-Cornered Moon
  • 1934 - Kiss and Make-Up
  • 1934 - Come on Marines
  • 1934 - Bolero
  • 1934 - All of Me
  • 1934 - Little Miss Marker
  • 1934 - Search for Beauty
  • 1934 - Six of a Kind
  • 1935 - The Devil Is a Woman
  • 1935 - The Big Broadcast of 1936
  • 1935 - Ruggles of Red Gap
  • 1936 - The Big Broadcast of 1937
  • 1936 - Rhythm on the Range
  • 1936 - Rose of the Rancho
  • 1936 - Poppy
  • 1936 - Palm Springs
  • 1936 - Three Cheers for Love
  • 1937 - King of Gamblers
  • 1937 - The Big Broadcast of 1938, including the Academy Award-winning song "Thanks for the Memory"
  • 1937 - Blossoms on Broadway
  • 1937 - Hills of Old Wyoming
  • 1937 - Ebb Tide
  • 1937 - Swing High, Swing Low
  • 1937 - Waikiki Wedding
  • 1937 - Souls at Sea
  • 1938 - Her Jungle Love
  • 1938 - Artists and Models Abroad
  • 1938 - Romance in the Dark
  • 1938 - The Texans
  • 1939 - Gulliver's Travels, including the Academy Award nominated song "Faithful Forever"
  • 1939 - $1000 a Touchdown
  • 1941 - Cadet Girl
  • 1941 - A Yank in the R.A.F.
  • 1941 - Tall, Dark and Handsome
  • 1941 - Rise and Shine
  • 1941 - New York Town
  • 1942 - Footlight Serenade
  • 1942 - True to the Army
  • 1942 - My Gal Sal

See also

  • :Category:Songs with music by Ralph Rainger
  • Uncle Sam Gets Around, 1941 song

References

  • Ralph Rainger recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.