George Bruns

George Edward Bruns (July 3, 1914 – May 23, 1983) was an American composer of music for film and television who worked on many Disney films. He was nominated for four Academy Awards for his work. He was also a proficient musician, playing and recording on trombone, tuba and string bass.

For the basketball player, see George Bruns (basketball).
Not to be confused with George Burns.
George Bruns
Birth nameGeorge Edward Bruns
Born(1914-07-03)July 3, 1914
Sandy, Oregon, United States
DiedMay 23, 1983(1983-05-23) (aged 68)
Portland, Oregon, United States
GenresFilm score, jazz
Occupation(s)Composer, conductor, musician
InstrumentsTrombone, tuba, string bass
Years active1930s to 1983

Career

George Edward Bruns was born on July 3, 1914 in Sandy, Oregon,[1] and went to college at Oregon State University, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, graduating in 1936.[2] In the 1930s he worked as a musician with various groups in the Portland, Oregon area. In 1946 he was appointed musical director at radio station KEX in Portland, Oregon, and also was the bandleader for the Rose Bowl room of the Multnomah Hotel. From 1947 to 1949 he performed and recorded on trombone with Portland's Castle Jazz Band, led by banjoist Monte Ballou.

In the late 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he did studio work, performed, and recorded with trombonist Turk Murphy's Jazz Band. In 1953, he was hired by Walt Disney as an arranger, eventually becoming Disney's musical director, a position he held until his retirement in 1976. Despite his retirement, he continued to work on Disney projects. In 1973, Bruns and Buddy Baker composed and conducted the musical score for films combining live-action and animation.

Among his work is the song "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" (which he co-wrote with Xavier Atencio), used in the Disney theme park attraction Pirates of the Caribbean and the movies based on that ride. He also co-wrote "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" with Tom W. Blackburn, as well as the song "Love" for the Disney animated film Robin Hood. During the mid-1950s in 1953 at the Disney Studio, his first assignment was when he composed and adapted the music from Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty ballet for use as background score in the 1959 Disney film version. In addition to composing live action films, Bruns went on to compose the scores for One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, The Aristocats, and Robin Hood. He also provided Herbie the Love Bug with his sprightly theme song, featured prominently throughout the series.

During his tenure with Disney Studios, Bruns continued to play dixieland jazz, leading his Wonderland Jazz Band on two recording sessions, and playing and recording occasionally with the Disney "house" band, the Firehouse Five Plus Two.

Bruns retired from Disney in 1976 and moved back to Sandy, Oregon.[1] He taught part-time at Lewis & Clark College and continued to play and compose music, including recording at least one locally distributed album of jazz.[1]

Academy Awards
  • 46th Oscars Nominated Best Music, Original Song Robin Hood (1973), with Floyd Huddleston (lyrics) for the song "Love"
  • 36th Oscars Nominated Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment for The Sword in the Stone (1963)
  • 34th Oscars Nominated Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture Babes in Toyland (1961)
  • 32nd Oscars Nominated Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Death

Bruns died of a heart attack on May 23, 1983 in Portland, Oregon.[1] Bruns was named a Disney Legend in 2001.

Selected film scores
Year Title Director(s) Studio(s)
1955Davy Crockett, King of the Wild FrontierNorman FosterWalt Disney Productions
1956Davy Crockett and the River PiratesNorman FosterWalt Disney Productions
Westward Ho the Wagons!William BeaudineWalt Disney Productions
1957Johnny TremainRobert StevensonWalt Disney Productions
1959Sleeping BeautyClyde Geronimi (Supervising Director)
Eric Larson
Wolfgang Reitherman
Les Clark (Sequence Directors)		Walt Disney Productions
1961One Hundred and One DalmatiansWolfgang Reitherman
Hamilton Luske
Clyde Geronimi		Walt Disney Productions
The Absent-Minded ProfessorRobert StevensonWalt Disney Productions
1963Son of FlubberRobert StevensonWalt Disney Productions
The Sword in the StoneWolfgang ReithermanWalt Disney Productions
1966The Ugly DachshundNorman TokarWalt Disney Productions
The Fighting Prince of DonegalMichael O'HerlihyWalt Disney Productions
Follow Me, Boys!Norman TokarWalt Disney Productions
1967Island of the LostJohn FloreaParamount Pictures
The Adventures of Bullwhip GriffinJames NeilsonWalt Disney Productions
The Jungle BookWolfgang ReithermanWalt Disney Productions
1968Daring GameLászló BenedekParamount Pictures
The Horse in the Gray Flannel SuitNorman TokarWalt Disney Productions
The Love BugRobert StevensonWalt Disney Productions
1970The AristocatsWolfgang ReithermanWalt Disney Productions
1973Robin HoodWolfgang ReithermanWalt Disney Productions
1974Herbie Rides AgainRobert StevensonWalt Disney Productions
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References
  1. "The Original Mickey Mouse Club Show: Big George". Originalmmc.com. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  2. OSU's famous alumni Archived 2007-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
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