Fred Myrow(1939-1999)

Composer Fred Myrow was born on July 16, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York. His grandfather was music publishing giant, producer and manager Irving Mills and his father was noted composer Josef Myrow (he wrote the popular hit song "You Make Me Feel So Young"). He moved to Hollywood, California at age six. Fred studied with Darius Milhaud in Aspen in 1956 and took courses in conducting and composition at the University of California, where his instructors included Ingolf Dahl, Muriel Kerr and Gwendolyn Koldolfsky. In 1959 Myrow wrote "Symphonic Variations" for the Young Musicians Foundation; this piece premiered at the Hollywood Bowl and was subsequently performed at the L.A. Philharmonic, B.B.C., and Concerts Colonne, Paris, where it was conducted by Lawrence Foster. Fred returned to America in 1964. He was the composer, pianist, and conductor for the Center for Creative and Performing Arts in Buffalo, New York. He appeared regularly with Evenings For New Music at Carnegie Hall under Lukas Foss. Myrow's composition "Songs From the Japanese" was performed at such places as Tanglewood, the Monday Evening Concerts in Los Angeles, and the B.B.C. London. It was then recorded by Nonesuch with soprano Phylis Bryn-Julson and conductor Arthur Weisberg. Fred wrote "Music for Orchestra I" for the Fromm Foundation, where it premiered at the Tanglewood Festival and was conducted by Gunther Schuller. This was followed by "Music for Orchestra II." In 1969 Myrow studied music from other cultures and worked as a composer for various media. He collaborated with Jim Morrison by writing the music for the movie "Highway." In addition, Myrow both arranged and conducted the album "Subway to the Country" for Elektra Records. Fred also wrote orchestrations for Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks and served as a mentor to such Los Angeles musicians as jazz pianist Brad Meldahl and producer Daniel Lanois. Myrow's first film score was for the John Boorman picture "Leo the Last." Fred composed an effectively offbeat and unconventional score for the grim futuristic science fiction feature "Soylent Green." Fred is probably best known for his superbly spooky, stirring and imaginative score for the outstanding low-budget independent horror cult favorite "Phantasm." He had previously collaborated with "Phantasm" writer/director Don Coscarelli on both "Jim the World's Greatest" and "Kenny & Company." Fred subsequently worked with Coscarelli on three "Phantasm" sequels and "Survival Quest." Myrow both composed the music and co-wrote song lyrics for the 1990 stage musical "Stevie Wants to Play the Blues;" it starred Paula Kelly and Amy Madigan and was directed by Simon Callow. "Beyond the Veil" was presented by L.A. Classic Theatreworks in December of 1990. He owned a recording music studio that was stocked with keyboard instruments, synthesizers, and computers. Fred Myrow died of a heart attack at age 59 on January 14, 1999.