Phil Ohman (October 7, 1896 – August 8, 1954) was an American

film composer A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental, or choral pieces called cues, which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to ...

and pianist. He is most well known for his collaboration with fellow musician

Victor Arden Victor Arden was the stage name for an American pianist named Lewis John Fuiks (8 March 1893 — 31 July 1962)DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Compa ...

Biography

Ohman was born Fillmore Wellington Ohman in

New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately southwest of Hartford. According to 2020 Census, the population of the city is 74,135. Among the southernmost of the communities encompassed wit ...

in 1896. He is remembered as being one half of one of the pre-eminent piano duos in the 1922-1932, paired with

. They were the pit pianists in many of

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...

's musicals, and recorded hundreds of piano rolls and records. Starting in mid 1927, just as they signed to

Victor Records The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidi ...

, they developed a large studio orchestra specializing in Broadway show songs that became quite popular. These particular records employed a rather large, brassy powerful sound (it is not known who they used as arranger), always with a space for a twin piano duet section. Ohman died in

Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

on August 8, 1954.

Partial filmography

*''Try and Play It'' (1922) *''Up and Down the Keys'' (1922) *''Piano Pan'' (1922) *''Sparkles'' (1935) *''The Renegade Trail'' (1939) *''

Captain Caution ''Captain Caution'' is a 1940 American adventure film directed by Richard Wallace set during the War of 1812. The film stars Victor Mature, Bruce Cabot and Alan Ladd. It was based on the novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts. Elmer Raguse ...

'' (1940) *''The Roundup'' (1941) * ''

Sweethearts of the U.S.A. ''Sweethearts of the U.S.A.'' is a 1944 American musical comedy film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Una Merkel, Harry Parke, and Donald Novis.Taylor & Jackson p.276 In Britain, it was released under the alternative title of ''Sweethear ...

'' (1944) *''

Dick Tracy vs. Cueball ''Dick Tracy vs. Cueball'' is a 1946 American action film based on the 1930s comic strip character of the same name created by Chester Gould. The film stars Morgan Conway as Dick Tracy in the second installment of the ''Dick Tracy'' film serie ...

'' (1946) *''

Million Dollar Weekend ''Million Dollar Weekend'' is a 1948 American film noir directed by, and starring, Gene Raymond, based on his original story. Plot Stockbroker Nicholas Lawrence (Gene Raymond) has grown tired of his tedious life in Los Angeles and decides one ...

'' (1948)

References

External links

*
Phil Ohman recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

. 1896 births 1954 deaths 20th-century American composers American film score composers American pop pianists American male pianists American male film score composers Ragtime composers Ragtime pianists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians {{US-composer-19thC-stub

Biography

Partial filmography

See also

References

Further reading

External links