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Willis Holman(1927-2024)

  • Music Department
  • Composer
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Willis Holman was born on 21 May 1927 in Olive, California, USA. He was a composer, known for Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), Swamp Women (1956) and Porgy and Bess (1959). He was married to Jeri Southern. He died on 6 May 2024 in the USA.
BornMay 21, 1927
DiedMay 6, 2024(96)
BornMay 21, 1927
DiedMay 6, 2024(96)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels

Known for

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Glengarry Glen Ross
7.6
  • Music Department(uncredited)
  • 1992
Mike Connors, Carole Mathews, Beverly Garland, and Marie Windsor in Swamp Women (1956)
Swamp Women
3.4
  • Music Department
  • 1956
Sidney Poitier, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)
Porgy and Bess
6.9
  • Music Department
  • 1959
Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, and Margaret Hayes in Blackboard Jungle (1955)
Blackboard Jungle
7.4
  • Soundtrack
  • 1955

Credits

IMDbPro

Music Department



  • Baylor Jazz Ensemble: Georgetown Jazz Festival (2021)
    Baylor Jazz Ensemble: Georgetown Jazz Festival
    Video
    • arranger
    • 2021
  • The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009)
    The 81st Annual Academy Awards
    7.8
    TV Special
    • music arranger
    • 2009
  • Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
    Glengarry Glen Ross
    7.6
    • arranger (uncredited)
    • 1992
  • Rolling Stone Magazine: The 10th Anniversary (1977)
    Rolling Stone Magazine: The 10th Anniversary
    6.5
    TV Movie
    • music arranger (as Bill Holman)
    • 1977
  • The Pearl Bailey Show (1971)
    The Pearl Bailey Show
    5.6
    TV Series
    • musical arrangements by (as Bill Holman)
    • 1971
  • The Young Americans
    TV Special
    • arrangements (as Bill Holman)
    • 1970
  • Dean Martin in The Wrecking Crew (1968)
    The Wrecking Crew
    5.5
    • orchestrator (uncredited)
    • 1968
  • Bing Crosby Special: Making Movies
    6.2
    TV Special
    • music arrangements
    • 1968
  • The Bing Crosby Show (1968)
    The Bing Crosby Show
    7.2
    TV Special
    • musical arrangement (as Bill Holman)
    • 1968
  • Jack Lemmon and Elaine May in Luv (1967)
    Luv
    5.3
    • orchestrator (as Bill Holman)
    • 1967
  • An American Dream (1966)
    An American Dream
    4.8
    • orchestrator (uncredited)
    • 1966
  • Janet Leigh and Jerry Lewis in Three on a Couch (1966)
    Three on a Couch
    5.8
    • orchestrator (uncredited)
    • 1966
  • Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner, and Pamela Tiffin in Harper (1966)
    Harper
    6.8
    • orchestrator (uncredited)
    • 1966
  • Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)
    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
    8.5
    TV Series
    • orchestrator (as Bill Holman)
    • 1962–1992
  • Sidney Poitier, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Porgy and Bess
    6.9
    • musician: reeds
    • 1959

Composer



  • Blenderstein! (2011)
    Blenderstein!
    7.9
    Short
    • Composer
    • 2011
  • Jeanne Baird, Marilyn O'Connor, and Doug Wilson in Get Outta Town (1960)
    Get Outta Town
    6.1
    • Composer (as Bill Holman)
    • 1960
  • Mike Connors, Carole Mathews, Beverly Garland, and Marie Windsor in Swamp Women (1956)
    Swamp Women
    3.4
    • Composer
    • 1956

Soundtrack



  • Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
    Glengarry Glen Ross
    7.6
    • performer: "Prelude To A Kiss"
    • 1992
  • Buddy Rich and His Band: Channel One Suite (1985)
    Buddy Rich and His Band: Channel One Suite
    7.9
    • arranger: "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"
    • 1985
  • Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, and Margaret Hayes in Blackboard Jungle (1955)
    Blackboard Jungle
    7.4
    • writer: "Invention for Guitar and Trumpet"
    • 1955

Personal details

  • Alternative names
    • Bill Holman
  • Born
    • May 21, 1927
    • Olive, California, USA
  • Died
    • May 6, 2024
    • USA(Undisclosed)
  • Spouses
      Jeri Southern? - 1980 (divorced, 1 child)
  • Other works
    Peg (1983). A Musical Autobiography. Book by Peggy Lee. New lyrics by Peggy Lee. New music by Paul Horner. Musical Director: Larry Fallon. Vocal arrangements by Ray Charles. Music orchestrated by Artie Butler, Larry Fallon [final Broadway credit], Dominic Frontiere, Willis Holman [credited as Bill Holman], Gordon Jenkins, Philip J. Lang, Johnny Mandel, Billy May, Leon Pendarvis, Don Sebesky, Larry Wilcox and Torrie Zito. Featuring "Fever" by Johnny Davenport and Eddie Cooley. Featuring "Goody, Goody" by Johnny Mercer and Matty Malneck. Featuring "Why Don't You Do Right?" by Joe McCoy. Featuring "I Don't Know Enough About You" and "It's A Good Day" by Dave Barbour. Featuring "Stay Away From Louisville Lou" by Jack Yellen and Milton Ager. Featuring "Lover" by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Featuring "Big Spender" by Dorothy Fields and Cy Coleman. Featuring "Is That All There Is?" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Scenic Design by Tom H. John. Costume Design by Florence Klotz. Lighting Design by Thomas Skelton. Sound Design by Jan Nebozenko. Sound Consultant: Phil Ramone. Directed by Robert Drivas. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre: 14 Dec 1983- 17 Dec 1983 (5 performances + 13 previews that began on 1 Dec 1983). Cast: Peggy Lee (as "Peggy Lee") [Broadway debut], Mary Sue Berry (as "Soprano I/Back-up Singer"), Steve Clayton (as "Tenor/Back-up Singer"), Doris Eugenio (as "Soprano II/Back-up Singer"), Rose Marie Jun (as "Alto/Back-up Singer"), Brian Quinn (as "Tenor/Back-up Singer"), David Vogel (as "Baritone/Back-up Singer"). Swings: D. Michael Heath, Ellen McLain. Produced by Zev Bufman, Marge Cowan, Irv Cowan and Georgia Frontiere.

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Tenor saxophonist, better known as 'Bill' Holman. Studied at the Westlake College in California before joining the orchestra of Charlie Barnet for three years and Stan Kenton for another four years. Has also worked as an arranger and composed a theme song for Shelly Manne's Blackhawk band ("A Gem from Tiffany"). In 1991, he scored Natalie Cole's famous album "Unforgettable".
  • Quotes
    About Grammy-winning arranger Billy May: "It was always Billy May. He did not change a lot from artist to artist. He worked for a lot of people because it was very human music."

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