William Leon Goldenberg (February 10, 1936 – August 3, 2020) was an American

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

and

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...

, best known for his work on television and film.

Early life

Goldenberg was born in February 10, 1936 in

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, New York, New York. His mother played the violin, and she taught him how to play the violin and the viola. Then he played it in chamber and symphonic groups. His father was a staff percussionist at WOR and the NBC Symphonic Orchestra. At age five, he played piano and sang Broadway shows. He wanted a musical career but since his father was laid off, he was dissuaded in the early 1950s. Instead of attending

Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

, he studied physics and mathematics at Columbia College.

Career

After college, Goldenberg was a computer programmer, but he quit the job due to an

ulcer An ulcer is a discontinuity or break in a bodily membrane that impedes normal function of the affected organ. According to Robbins's pathology, "ulcer is the breach of the continuity of skin, epithelium or mucous membrane caused by sloughing o ...

. He found work as a pianist and arranger. He was hired to write the soundtrack for comedy sketches of

Mike Nichols Mike Nichols (born Michael Igor Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014) was an American film and theater director, producer, actor, and comedian. He was noted for his ability to work across a range of genres and for his aptitude fo ...

and Elaine May in the Broadway show, ''An Evening with Nichols and May''. In the 1960s, Goldenberg met Spielberg at

Universal Studios Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

. He started to compose music for Spielberg's television pieces such as ''

Night Gallery ''Night Gallery'' is an American anthology television series that aired on NBC from December 16, 1970, to May 27, 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, ''The Twilight Zone ...

'' and the 1971 TV film, ''

Duel A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people, with matched weapons, in accordance with agreed-upon Code duello, rules. During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the r ...

''. His other film scores included the

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

film ''

Change of Habit ''Change of Habit'' is a 1969 American crime drama musical film directed by William A. Graham and starring Elvis Presley and Mary Tyler Moore. Written by James Lee, S.S. Schweitzer, and Eric Bercovici, based on a story by John Joseph and Ric ...

'' (1969), '' The Grasshopper'' (1970), ''

Red Sky at Morning The common phrase "red sky at morning" is a line from an ancient rhyme often repeated by sailor, mariners: ''Kentucky Weather'', by Jerry D. Hill, 2005, p.139, web: Books-Google-ikC Red sky at night, sailors' delight. Red sky at morning, sail ...

'' (1971), ''

The Last of Sheila ''The Last of Sheila'' is a 1973 American whodunnit mystery film directed by Herbert Ross and written by Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim. It starred Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, James Coburn, Joan Hackett, James Mason, Ian McShane, and ...

'' (1973), ''

Busting ''Busting'' is a 1974 American crime film directed by Peter Hyams in his theatrical directorial debut, starring Elliott Gould and Robert Blake as Los Angeles police detectives. It was the main inspiration for the cop series ''Starsky & Hutch'', ...

'' (1974), ''

The Domino Principle ''The Domino Principle'' is a 1977 neo-noir thriller film starring Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, Mickey Rooney and Richard Widmark. The film is based on the novel of the same name and was adapted for the screen by its author Adam Kennedy. It was d ...

'' (1977) and ''

Reuben, Reuben ''Reuben, Reuben'' is a 1983 comedy-drama film directed by Robert Ellis Miller and starring Tom Conti, Kelly McGillis (in her film debut), Roberts Blossom, Cynthia Harris, and Joel Fabiani. The film was adapted by Julius J. Epstein from the 19 ...

'' (1983). He also wrote music for ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. Moor ...

'', '' Columbo'', and the first two episodes of ''

Kojak ''Kojak'' is an American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theodopolis "Theo" Kojak. Taking the time slot of the popular ''Cannon'' series, it ...

'', including the theme tune. Additionally he wrote scores for

Woody Allen Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing ...

's '' Play It Again, Sam'' (1972) and ''

Up the Sandbox ''Up the Sandbox'' is a 1972 American comedy-drama film directed by Irvin Kershner and starring Barbra Streisand. Paul Zindel's screenplay, based on the novel by Anne Roiphe, focuses on Margaret Reynolds, a bored, young wife and mother who ...

'' (1972). Later on, he was praised for all his works and his score for the ''Sandbox'' movie was considered 'the real pulse of the movie' and also if the score could be turned into a song. He wrote the song "If I Close My Eyes" for the ''Sandbox'' movie and then won an Emmy Award for the score of ''

Queen of the Stardust Ballroom ''Queen of the Stardust Ballroom'' is an American musical television movie directed by Sam O'Steen and produced by Roger Gimbel, from the teleplay by Jerome Kass. It was broadcast by CBS on February 13, 1975. Maureen Stapleton, Charles Durning ...

'' (1975). He earned 3 Emmy Awards for '' The Lives of Benjamin Franklin'' (1974) which described the life of

Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...

, and also scored many TV movies, such as '' Fear No Evil'' (1969), ''

Ritual of Evil ''Ritual of Evil'' is a 1970 American made-for-television drama horror film directed by Robert Day and starring Louis Jourdan. It was made as a sequel to '' Fear No Evil'' (1969), which also starred Louis Jourdan as Dr. Sorrell. Plot Psychiatri ...

'' (1970), '' Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'' (1973), ''

Double Indemnity ''Double Indemnity'' is a 1944 American crime film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same ...

'' (1973), ''

The UFO Incident ''The UFO Incident'' is a 1975 American made-for-television biographical film starring James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons based on the alleged 1961 alien abduction of Barney and Betty Hill. Plot The movie introduces us to Barney and Betty H ...

'' (1975), '' Helter Skelter'' (1976), ''

One of My Wives Is Missing ''One of My Wives Is Missing'' is a television mystery thriller ( ABC, 1976) with Jack Klugman, Elizabeth Ashley, James Franciscus, Joel Fabiani, and others. The teleplay was based on the 1960 stage play ''Trap for a Single Man'' by Robert Thoma ...

'' (1976), ''

The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case ''The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case'' is a 1976 American television film dramatization of the Lindbergh kidnapping, directed by Buzz Kulik and starting Cliff DeYoung, Anthony Hopkins, Martin Balsam, Joseph Cotten, and Walter Pidgeon. It first aired ...

'' (1976), ''

Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night ''Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night'' is a Golden Globe nominated CBS television film starring Susan Dey as an abusive mother. The film, which aired in October 1977, was written and produced by Joanna Lee and featured a supporting cast including ...

'' (1977), ''

The Cracker Factory ''The Cracker Factory'' is an American television film directed by Burt Brinckerhoff. The teleplay by Richard Shapiro is based on the best-selling 1977 novel by Joyce Rebeta-Burditt. The film was broadcast by ABC on March 16, 1979. Synopsis Al ...

'' (1979), ''

Crisis at Central High ''Crisis at Central High'' is a 1981 made-for-television movie about the Little Rock Integration Crisis of 1957, based on a draft of the memoir by the same name by former assistant principal Elizabeth Huckaby.

'' (1981), ''

This House Possessed ''This House Possessed'' is a 1981 American made-for-television horror film directed by William Wiard and starring Parker Stevenson and Lisa Eilbacher. Plot Following a nervous breakdown, a recuperating rock star and his young nurse discover the ...

'' (1981), ''

The Best Little Girl in the World ''The Best Little Girl in the World'' is a 1981 television film directed by Sam O'Steen and executive produced by Aaron Spelling. The film is based upon the 1979 novel of the same name written by Steven Levenkron. Plot Seventeen-year-old Casey ...

'' (1981) and ''

Massarati and the Brain ''Massarati and the Brain'' is a 1982 American television film produced by Aaron Spelling. Plot A billionaire private detective is looking for missing treasure, with the help of his young geek nephew, his domestic and cook, and a federal agent. ...

'' (1982), and TV miniseries including ''

The Gangster Chronicles ''The Gangster Chronicles'' is a 1981 American crime drama television miniseries starring Michael Nouri, Joe Penny, Jon Polito, Louis Giambalvo, Kathleen Lloyd, Madeleine Stowe, Chad Redding, Markie Post, Allan Arbus, James Andronica, Robert D ...

'' (1981), ''

Rage of Angels ''Rage of Angels'' is a novel by Sidney Sheldon published in 1980. The novel revolves around young attorney Jennifer Parker; as she rises as a successful lawyer, she gets into a series of ongoings that lead to intrigue with the mob and a rival ...

'' (1983), ''

The Atlanta Child Murders ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1985), '' Kane and Abel'' (1985) and ''

Around the World in 80 Days ''Around the World in Eighty Days'' (french: link=no, Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours) is an adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, first published in French in 1872. In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employe ...

'' (1989).

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Goldenberg, Billy 1936 births 2020 deaths American television composers Musicians from Brooklyn American film score composers American male film score composers 20th-century American composers 21st-century American composers Broadway composers and lyricists Emmy Award winners American male songwriters 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians Columbia College (New York) alumni