Ken Darby

Kenneth Lorin Darby May 13 1909 January 24 1992 was an American composer vocal arranger lyricist and conductor His film scores were recognized by the awarding of three Academy Awards and one Grammy Award He provided vocals for the Munchkinland mayor in The Wizard of Oz 1939 who was portrayed in the film by Charlie Becker Darby is also notable as the author of The Brownstone House of Nero Wolfe 1983 a biography of the home of Rex Stouts fictional detective Ken Darbys choral group The Ken Darby Singers sang backup for Bing Crosby on the original 1942 Decca Records studio recording of White Christmas In 1940 they also sang on the first album ever made of the songs from The Wizard of Oz a film on which Darby had worked However the album was a studio cast recording not a true soundtrack album although it did feature Judy Garland and it did not use the films original arrangements Darby also performed as part of The Kings Men a vocal quartet that recorded several songs with Paul Whitemans orchestra in the mid1930s and were the featured vocalists on the Fibber McGee and Molly radio program from 1940 through 1953 In the early 1940s he performed with the Kings Men a musical version of A Visit from St Nicholas that he wrote called Twas the Night Before Christmas which was performed on the Christmas episodes of Fibber McGee and Molly They also participated on the soundtracks of several MGM films including The Wizard of Oz and occasional Tom and Jerry cartoons The Kings Men portrayed the Marx Brothers in a musical spoof in the film Honolulu Darby played one of two Grouchos in the group He also provided the theme song and the soundtrack for The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp the 195561 television series starring Hugh OBrian and The Adventures of Jim Bowie starring Scott Forbes He was a composer and production supervisor for Walt Disney Studios and was the choral and vocal director of the 1946 Disney film classic Song of the South He was also Marilyn Monroes vocal coach for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 1953 and Theres No Business Like Show Business 1954 Darby was also the principal composer of the 1956 Elvis Presley hit Love Me Tender for the movie of the same name but signed the rights over to his wife Vera Matson whose name appears as colyricist and cocomposer with Presley The song was adapted from the Civil Warera song Aura Lee Presleys composing credit was mandated by his management to entice him to record the song Darby was often asked about his decision to credit the song to his wife along with Presley and his standard response was an acid Because she didnt write it either An avid fan of Nero Wolfe Rex Stouts fictional detective genius Darby wrote a detailed biography of Wolfes home titled The Brownstone House of Nero Wolfe 1983 Ken Darby died January 24 1992 in the final stages of production of his last book Hollywood Holyland The Filming and Scoring of The Greatest Story Ever Told 1992 He was buried at the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles