"Where's Poppa" Composer & "Blade Runner" Record Producer Jack Elliott 2001 Westwood Village Cemetery

Jack Elliott (August 6, 1927 – August 18, 2001) was an American television and film composer, conductor, music arranger, and television producer.

Biography

Born Irwin Elliott Zucker in Hartford, Connecticut, Elliott graduated from the Hartt School of Music and worked as a jazz pianist in New York and Paris in the 1950s.[1][2] He continued his post-graduate studies in composition with Arnold Franchetti, Isadore Freed, Bohuslav Martinů, and Lukas Foss, but it was Judy Garland who brought Elliott to California to become an arranger for her television show.

Elliott continued his run in television as music director for Andy Williams' long-running series and later produced and conducted the NBC television special Live From Studio 8H: 100 Years of America's Popular Music. He also wrote themes for television shows Night Court, and co-wrote the themes to Barney Miller, and Charlie's Angels with Allyn Ferguson. He is listed in New Grove's Dictionary of American Music and was awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music.

Elliott was co-founder and music director of the American Jazz Philharmonic (formerly the New American Orchestra)[3] and creator of the Henry Mancini Institute.[4] The original name of the Orchestra was "The Big O" and was the largest jazz orchestra of its kind featuring over 92 musicians. Elliott blended the classical European style orchestra with modern American jazz style. 

His professional repertoire was diverse, highlighted by stints as music director for the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Kennedy Center Honors and the 1984 Summer Olympics. In addition, he holds the distinction of serving as music director of the Grammy Awards for 30 consecutive years.

He had an accomplished career in film, scoring numerous hit movies, including Sibling Rivalry, The Jerk, Oh God!, and Where's Poppa?. 

He also produced the Blade Runner soundtrack album with the New American Orchestra, and composed the song "It's So Nice to Have a Man Around the House" in 1950, made famous by Dinah Shore.

Death 

Jack Elliott served as music director of the Henry Mancini Institute until his death from a brain tumor on August 18, 2001.[1]

Jack Elliott is interred in the Garden of Serenity at Westwood Village Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. 

Selected discography

Night Court 
Charlie's Angels(1976-1981)( wrote with Allyn Ferguson) 

Selected filmography

The Happiest Millionaire (1967) 
The Comic (1969) 
Where's Poppa? (1970) 
T.R. Baskin (1971) 
Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971) 
Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972) 
Oh, God! (1977) 
Just You and Me, Kid (1979) 
The Jerk (1979) 
Sibling Rivalry (1990) 

Television

McHale's Navy (15 episodes, 1965–1966) 
Pistols 'n' Petticoats (3 episodes, 1966) 
The New Dick Van Dyke Show (2 episodes, 1971–1974) 
The Rookies (6 episodes, 1973–1975) 
Really Raquel (1974)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Film or series

1965 Academy Award Nominated Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Shared with Robert Armbruster, Leo Arnaud, Jack Hayes, Calvin Jackson, and Leo Shuken) 
1987 BMI Film and TV Awards Won BMI TV Music Award Night Court 
1988 1989 1981 Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction Omnibus (For December 28, 1980 episode Shared with Alf Clausen and William Goldstein) 
1989 Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

References

1. Thurber, Jon (2001-08-19). "Jack Elliott; Composer Led Mancini Institute". The L.A. Times. 
2. "Jack Elliott -- Composer, 74". The New York Times. 2001-08-24. 
3. Rusch, Bob (March 1976). Vol. 1, No. 3. Cadence. p. 93. 
4. Heckman, Don (2002-07-29). "Henry Mancini Institute Pays Tribute to Founder Jack Elliott". The L.A. Times.