Dave Grusin

Robert David Grusin (born June 26,[lower-alpha 1] 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, including an Academy Award and 10 Grammy Awards. He is also a frequent collaborator with director Sydney Pollack, scoring many of his films like Three Days of the Condor (1975), Absence of Malice (1981), Tootsie (1982), The Firm (1993), and Random Hearts (1999). In 1978, Grusin founded GRP Records with Larry Rosen, and was an early pioneer of digital recording.[1][3][4]

Dave Grusin
Grusin in 2008
Grusin in 2008
Background information
Birth nameRobert David Grusin
Born (1934-06-26) June 26, 1934
Littleton, Colorado, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • composer
  • producer
Instrument(s)
  • Piano
  • keyboards
Years active1962–present
LabelsGRP

Early life

Grusin was born in Littleton, Colorado, to Henri and Rosabelle (née de Poyster) Grusin. Grusin’s family originates from Gruzinsky princely line of the Bagrationi dynasty, the royal family that ruled the Kingdom of Georgia in the 9-19th centuries. In Slavic languages, "Grusin" is an ethnonym for Georgians. [5] Grusin’s father, who was a violinist, was born and raised in Riga, Latvia, then part of the Russian Empire, from where he emigrated to the United States in 1913. Grusin's mother was a pianist.[6][7] Grusin’s father is of Jewish ancestry.[8] He is the brother of fellow jazz keyboardist, composer, and producer Don Grusin.

Grusin studied music at the University of Colorado at Boulder and received his degree in 1956.[9] Grusin's teachers included Cecil Effinger and Wayne Scott, pianist, arranger and professor of jazz.[10]

Career

Grusin produced his first single in 1962, "Subways Are for Sleeping", and his first film score, for Divorce American Style, in 1967. Other scores followed, including The Graduate (1967), Winning (1969), The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), The Midnight Man (1974), and Three Days of the Condor (1975).[9]

In 1978, Grusin founded GRP Records with his business partner, Larry Rosen, and began to produce some of the first commercial digital recordings. Grusin was the composer for On Golden Pond (1981), Tootsie (1982), and The Goonies (1985). In 1988, he won the Oscar for best original score, for The Milagro Beanfield War. Grusin composed the musical signatures for the 1984 TriStar Pictures logo and the 1993 Columbia Pictures Television logo.[11]

In 1998, Grusin ranked No. 5 and No. 8 on Billboard's Top 10 Jazz Artists, at mid-year and at year's end, respectively, based on sales of his album, "Dave Grusin Presents West Side Story".[12][13]

From 2000-11, Grusin concentrated on composing classical and jazz compositions, touring and recording with collaborators, including jazz singer and lyricist Lorraine Feather[14] and guitarist Lee Ritenour. Their album Harlequin won a Grammy Award in 1985. Their classical crossover albums, Two Worlds and Amparo, were nominated for Grammys.[15][16]

Grusin has a filmography of about 100 titles. His many awards include an Oscar for best original score for The Milagro Beanfield War, as well as Oscar nominations for The Champ, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Firm, Havana, Heaven Can Wait, and On Golden Pond.[17] He received a Best Original Song nomination for "It Might Be You" from the film Tootsie. Six of the fourteen cuts on the soundtrack from The Graduate are his. Other film scores Grusin has composed include Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?, Three Days of the Condor, The Goonies, Tequila Sunrise, Hope Floats, Random Hearts, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Mulholland Falls and The Firm. He composed the original opening fanfare for film studio TriStar Pictures.[18]

Grusin composed theme music for the TV programs Good Morning World (American TV series) (1967), It Takes a Thief (1968), The Name of the Game (1968), Dan August (1970), The Sandy Duncan Show (1971–72), Maude (1972), Good Times (1974), Baretta (1975), St. Elsewhere (1982), and, for Televisa in Mexico, Tres Generaciones (1987). He composed music for individual episodes of each of those shows. Grusin's other TV credits include The Wild Wild West (1966), The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966), and Columbo: Prescription: Murder (1968). He composed and performed the 1984-1991 theme music for One Life to Live (1968).[19] Grusin wrote the music for the This Is America, Charlie Brown episode "The Smithsonian and the Presidency", and two of the cues from the episode "History Lesson" and "Breadline Blues" (the latter covered by Kenny G) appear on the tribute album Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown. "History Lesson" also appears in the Amiga CDTV version of Snoopy: The Cool Computer Game.

In 1994, GRP was in charge of MCA's jazz operations. Founders Grusin and Rosen left in 1995 and were replaced by Tommy LiPuma. In 1997, Grusin and Rosen founded N2K Encoded Music, which was renamed N-Coded Music.[9]

Grusin received honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music in 1988 and University of Colorado, College of Music in 1989. Grusin was initiated into the Beta Chi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at the University of Colorado in 1991.[20]

Personal Life

Dave Grusin has been married to Nan Newton for many years and has three adult children, Scott Grusin, Michael Grusin, and Stuart Grusin. He is also the stepfather of Nan's adult daughter, Annie Vought. Grusin is the subject of a 2018 feature-length documentary entitled “Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time.”[21]

Awards and honors

Over a 15-year period from 1979 to 1994, Grusin won one Academy Award, and received a further 7 nominations.[22][23] In total, he has been nominated for 38 Grammy Awards, and won on 10 occasions.[4]

Academy Awards [lower-alpha 2]

Grammy Awards
  • Winner, Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special: The Graduate (1968), shared with Paul Simon.[32][33]
  • Winner, Best Arrangement on an Instrumental: Summer Sketches '82 (1982), "Early A.M. Attitude" (1986), "Suite" for The Milagro Beanfield War (1990), "Bess You Is My Woman/I Loves You Porgy" (1991), "Mood Indigo" (1993), "Three Cowboy Songs" (1994)[4]
  • Winner, Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals: "My Funny Valentine" by Michelle Pfeiffer (1989), "Mean Old Man" by James Taylor (2002)[4]
  • Winner, Best Album Original Score Written for Motion Picture or Television: The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
  • Nomination, Best Original Score: Selena[4]

Golden Globe Awards
  • Nomination, Best Original Score: The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), Havana (1990), For the Boys (1991)

Other

Discography

As leader

As sideman

Filmography
Year Title Director(s) Studio(s) Notes
1967Divorce American StyleBud YorkinColumbia Pictures
Waterhole No. 3William A. GrahamParamount Pictures
The GraduateMike NicholsEmbassy Pictures
The Scorpio LettersRichard ThorpeMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1968A Man Called GannonJames GoldstoneUniversal Pictures
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?Hy AverbackUnited Artists
The Heart Is a Lonely HunterRobert Ellis MillerWarner Bros.
CandyChristian MarquandABC Pictures
1969WinningJames GoldstoneUniversal Pictures
Tell Them Willie Boy Is HereAbraham PolonskyUniversal Pictures
1970Halls of AngerPaul BogartUnited Artists
Adam at 6 A.M.Robert ScheererCinema Center Films
1971The Pursuit of HappinessRobert MulliganColumbia Pictures
Shoot OutHenry HathawayUniversal Pictures
A Howling in the WoodsDaniel PetrieNBC
Universal Television		Television film
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot StraightJames GoldstoneMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1972The Great Northfield Minnesota RaidPhilip KaufmanUniversal Pictures
FuzzRichard A. CollaUnited Artists
1973Amanda FallonJack LairdNBC
Universal Television		Television film
The Friends of Eddie CoylePeter YatesParamount Pictures
1974The Death SquadHarry FalkABC
Spelling-Goldberg Productions		Television film
The Nickel RideRobert Mulligan20th Century Fox
The Midnight ManRoland Kibbee
Burt Lancaster		Universal Pictures
The YakuzaSydney PollackWarner Bros.
1975W.W. and the Dixie DancekingsJohn G. Avildsen20th Century Fox
Three Days of the CondorSydney PollackParamount Pictures
1976Murder by DeathRobert MooreColumbia Pictures
The FrontMartin RittColumbia Pictures
1977Mr. BillionJonathan Kaplan20th Century Fox
Fire SaleAlan Arkin20th Century Fox
The Goodbye GirlHerbert RossWarner Bros.
Bobby DeerfieldSydney PollackWarner Bros.
1978Heaven Can WaitWarren Beatty
Buck Henry		Paramount PicturesNominated for Academy Award for Best Original Score
1979The ChampFranco ZeffirelliMetro-Goldwyn-MayerNominated for Academy Award for Best Original Score
...And Justice for All.Norman JewisonColumbia Pictures
The Electric HorsemanSydney PollackColumbia Pictures
1980My BodyguardTony Bill20th Century Fox
1981On Golden PondMark RydellAssociated Film DistributionNominated for Academy Award for Best Original Score
RedsWarren BeattyParamount Pictures
Absence of MaliceSydney PollackColumbia Pictures
1982Author! Author!Arthur Hiller20th Century Fox
TootsieSydney PollackColumbia Pictures
1984Racing with the MoonRichard BenjaminParamount Pictures
The Little Drummer GirlGeorge Roy HillWarner Bros.
Falling in LoveUlu GrosbardParamount Pictures
The Pope of Greenwich VillageStuart RosenbergUnited Artists
1985The GooniesRichard DonnerWarner Bros.
1986LucasDavid Seltzer20th Century Fox
1987IshtarElaine MayColumbia PicturesWith Bahjawa and Paul Williams
1988The Milagro Beanfield WarRobert RedfordUniversal PicturesWinner of the Academy Award for Best Original Score
Clara's HeartRobert MulliganWarner Bros.
Tequila SunriseRobert TowneWarner Bros.
1989A Dry White SeasonEuzhan PalcyMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Fabulous Baker BoysSteve Kloves20th Century FoxNominated for Academy Award for Best Original Score
1990HavanaSydney PollackUniversal PicturesNominated for Academy Award for Best Original Score
The Bonfire of the VanitiesBrian De PalmaWarner Bros.
1991For the BoysMark Rydell20th Century Fox
1993The FirmSydney PollackParamount PicturesNominated for Academy Award for Best Original Score
1995The CurePeter HortonUniversal Pictures
1996Mulholland FallsLee TamahoriMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1997SelenaGregory NavaWarner Bros.
In the GloamingChristopher ReeveHBOTelevision film
1998Hope FloatsForest Whitaker20th Century Fox
1999Random HeartsSydney PollackColumbia Pictures
2001Dinner with FriendsNorman JewisonHBOTelevision film
2006Even MoneyMark RydellYari Film Group
2008RecountJay RoachHBOTelevision film
2010HarmonyStuart Sender
Julie Bergman Sender		NBCTelevision film
2013Skating to New YorkCharles MinskyWell Go USA Entertainment

See also

Notes
  1. Some sources give Grusin's date of birth as June 24,[1] although most agree on June 26.[2][3]
  2. Dates given are those of the relevant Awards ceremony, not when the films were released.

References
  1. Blim, Dan (2014) [2013]. "Grusin, Dave". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2262383. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  2. Bordowitz, Hank (2001). "Grusin, Dave". In Slonimsky, Nicolas & Kuhn, Laura (eds.). Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Vol. 2 (Centennial ed.). New York: Shirmer Books. pp. 1383–1384. ISBN 0028655273. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  3. Adams, Michael (2009). "Grusin, Dave". In Cramer, Andrew W. (ed.). Musicians & Composers of the 20th Century. Vol. 2. Pasadena: Salem Press. pp. 543–546. ISBN 9781587655142. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  4. "Dave Grusin". Grammy Awards. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  5. "It's A Small World After All". georgianjournal.ge. March 15, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  6. "Dave Grusin Page" (PDF). Soul Walking. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  7. "Dave Grusin Biography". Film Reference. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  8. Lees, Gene. "The Jewish Contribution" (PDF). World Radio History. Retrieved September 26, 2022. High Fidelity, vol. 27 (1977), n° 7, p. 27.
  9. "The Dave Grusin manuscripts An inventory of holdings at the American Music Research Center" (PDF). American Music Research Center. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  10. "Cecil Effinger Interview with Bruce Duffie". Bruce Duffie. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  11. "Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen. Behind the scenes, they're ahead of their times" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 42. New York. October 20, 1979. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  12. "Year-to-Date Jazz Charts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 26. New York. June 27, 1998. p. 44. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  13. "The Year in Music 1998 – Top Jazz Artists / Top Jazz Albums" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. New York. p. YE79. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  14. Kaufman, Joanne (March 2, 2018). "When Your Home Has a History". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  15. Daniels, Melissa (June 20, 2008). "Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin to Return with 'Amparo'". JazzTimes. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  16. Soergel, Brian (October 1, 2008). "Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin: Amparo". JazzTimes. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  17. On Golden Pond (Main Theme) Sheet Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. October 1986. ISBN 978-1-4950-4316-1.
  18. "Tri-Star Logo Theme by Dave Grusin - Most Popular Songs". Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  19. "One Life To Live". Daytime Soap Opera Theme Songs and Main Titles. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  20. "Charles E. Lutton Man of Music". Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  21. Bentree, Barbara (Director). "Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time". jindojazz. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  22. Burlingame, Dave (November 6, 2020). "At 86, Oscar-Winning Composer Dave Grusin Is Ready to Tour Again When the COVID-19 Pandemic Subsides". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  23. Kinn, Gail & Piazza, Jim (2014). The Academy Awards: The Complete Unofficial History (Revised ed.). New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. ISBN 9781579129866 – via Internet Archive.
  24. "The 61st Academy Awards, 1989". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  25. "The 51st Academy Awards, 1979". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  26. "The 52nd Academy Awards, 1980". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  27. "The 54th Academy Awards, 1982". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  28. "The 62nd Academy Awards, 1990". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  29. "The 63rd Academy Awards, 1991". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  30. "The 66th Academy Awards, 1994". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  31. "The 55th Academy Awards, 1983". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  32. O'Neil, Thomas (1999). The Grammys: The Ultimate, Unofficial Guide to Music's Highest Honor (Revised ed.). New York: Perigree. p. 146. ISBN 0399524770. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  33. McPhate, Tim (May 15, 2017). "'Mrs. Robinson,' 'The Graduate' Soundtrack: 3 GRAMMY facts". Grammy Awards. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  34. "The Key is Versatility" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 74, no. 48. New York. December 1, 1962. p. 47. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  35. https://www.grusinfilm.com/bodyofwork
  36. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 130. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  37. "Dave Grusin | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  38. "Dave Grusin | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
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