Ken Darby Biography (1909-1992)
Full name, Kenneth Lorin Darby; born May 13, 1909, in Hebron, NE; died of heart problems, January 24, 1992, in Sherman Oaks, CA; buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hollywood Hills, CA; son of Lorin Edward and Clara Alice (Powell) Darby; married Vera A. Matson, March 30, 1932; children: Peter Lorin, Christina Ver Doremus.
- Nationality
- American
- Occupation
- composer, music director, arranger
- Birth Details
- May 13, 1909
- Hebron, Nebraska, United States
- Death Details
- January 24, 1992
- Sherman Oaks, California, United States
Famous Works
- Credits; Film Work
- Music director (with Eliot Daniel), Melody Time, RKO Radio Pictures, 1948.
- Music director, Love Me Tender (also see below), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1956.
- Music director (with Alfred Newman), South Pacific (also see below), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1958.
- Music director (with Andre Previn), Porgy and Bess (also see below), Columbia, 1959.
- Associate music supervisor, Flower Drum Song (also see below), Universal, 1961.
- Recordings; Albums
- Conductor (with Andre Previn) Porgy and Bess(original cast recording), Columbia, c. 1959.
- Credits; Music For Film
- Lyricist, River of No Return, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1954.
- Co-adaptor of score (with Alfred Newman), The King and I, Twentieth Century- Fox, 1956.
- Co-adaptor of score (with Andre Previn), Porgy and Bess, Columbia,1959.
- Score (with Newman), How the West Was Won, Cinerama, 1962.
- Co-adaptor of score (with Newman), Camelot, 7 Arts, 1967.
- Uncredited author of song "Love Me Tender" from Love Me Tender, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1956. Also worked on score (with Newman) of South Pacific, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1958; and worked on score (with Newman) of Flower Drum Song, Universal, 1961. Composer of score (with Newman) forMan of Galilee, 1987.
- Credits; Other
- Author of The Brownstone House of Nero Wolfe, 1983.
Further Reference
Periodicals
- Hollywood Reporter, January 27, 1992, pp. 4, 65.