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Ken Darby (I) (1909–1992)

Music Department | Soundtrack | Composer

Composer ("How the West Was Won"), songwriter ("Make Mine Music"), choral director, conductor, arranger, singer and author, educated at Christian College and a student of Tibor Serly, Ernst Toch, Herman Hand, and Victor Young. He originated The King's Men male vocal quartet in 1929 and appeared on radio... See full bio »

Born:

Kenneth Lorin Darby
in Hebron, Nebraska, USA

Died:

(age 82) in Sherman Oaks, California, USA
The 40th Annual Academy Awards: Angie Dickinson, Ken Darby, Gene Kelly. 1968.
1 photo | 7 videos | 4 news articles »

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Related News

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Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

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Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel -- This reel contains Christopher performing in Film and Television. The clips included are from the following: "The Boundary", "The Wire", "Duplicity", "Law & Order(SVU)", "Michael Clayton", "Cost Of A Soul", "HEROES" and "Law & Order (CI)".

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My Demo Reel -- Includes clips from GLORY DAZE, COMMUNITY and horror film URBAN EXPLORER.

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Won 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideMusic Department (75 titles)
1979 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series) (sequence music - 1 episode)
– Baseball Fever (1979) (sequence music)
 
1969 The Great Bank Robbery (vocal arranger)
 
1968 Finian's Rainbow (associate music supervisor)
 
1967 Camelot (music associate)
 
1967 The World: Color It Happy (TV movie) (music supervisor)
 
1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told (choral supervisor)
 
1962 How the West Was Won (choir - uncredited, music associate)
 
1962 State Fair (associate: Alfred Newman)
 
1961 Flower Drum Song (associate music supervisor)
 
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV series) (chorus - 203 episodes, 1955-1961) (music by - 8 episodes, 1956-1958) (performer: title song - 3 episodes, 1959) (choral director - 2 episodes, 1955-1961) (performer: theme song - 2 episodes, 1959) (singer: theme song - 1 episode, 1959)
– The Outlaws Cry Murder (1961) (choral director, chorus)
– Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1961) (chorus)
– Just Before the Battle (1961) (chorus)
– Wyatt's Brothers Join Up (1961) (chorus)
– Requiem for Old Man Clanton (1961) (chorus)
See all 217 episodes »
 
1960 Elmer Gantry (associate music supervisor)
 
1959 Journey to the Center of the Earth (associate conductor: songs)
 
1959 Hound-Dog Man (music associate)
 
1959 Porgy and Bess (music associate)
 
The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV series) (composer: theme music - 54 episodes, 1956-1958) (singers: theme song - 6 episodes, 1958)
– The Puma (1958) (composer: theme music, singers: theme song)
– Man on the Street (1958) (composer: theme music, singers: theme song)
– The Cave (1958) (composer: theme music, singers: theme song)
– A Night in Tennessee (1958) (composer: theme music, singers: theme song)
– Bad Medicine (1958) (composer: theme music, singers: theme song - as The Ken Darby Singers)
See all 54 episodes »
 
1958 South Pacific (associate conductor, associate music supervisor)
 
1957 The Three Faces of Eve (vocal supervisor)
 
1957 Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (vocal supervisor)
 
1957 Bernardine (vocal supervisor)
 
1957 An Affair to Remember (vocal supervisor)
 
1957 Desk Set (vocal coach - uncredited)
 
1956 The Girl Can't Help It (vocal supervisor)
 
1956 Love Me Tender (vocal supervisor)
 
1956 Ford Star Jubilee (TV series) (choral arrangements: archive footage - 1 episode)
– The Wizard of Oz (1956) (choral arrangements: archive footage)
 
1956 Bus Stop (vocal supervisor)
 
1956 The King and I (associate music supervisor)
 
1956 Carousel (associate: Alfred Newman)
 
1955 The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (vocal supervisor)
 
1955 Seven Cities of Gold (vocal supervisor)
 
1955 How to Be Very, Very Popular (vocal supervisor)
 
1955 House of Bamboo (vocal supervisor - uncredited)
 
1955 Soldier of Fortune (vocal supervisor)
 
1955 Daddy Long Legs (vocal supervisor)
 
1955 A Man Called Peter (vocal supervisor)
 
1954 There's No Business Like Show Business (music arranger: vocals, vocal supervisor)
 
1954 The Egyptian (vocal supervisor)
 
1954 Demetrius and the Gladiators (vocal director)
 
1954 Three Coins in the Fountain (vocal director)
 
1954 River of No Return (songs: lyrics, vocal director)
 
1953 The Robe (choral director - uncredited)
 
1953 The Girl Next Door (vocal director)
 
1953 Call Me Madam (vocal director)
 
1953 Down Among the Sheltering Palms (vocal director)
 
1953 Tonight We Sing (choral director)
 
1952 Stars and Stripes Forever (vocal director)
 
1952 Full House (vocal director)
 
1952 With a Song in My Heart (vocal director)
 
1952 Rancho Notorious (lyrics)
 
1951 Meet Me After the Show (vocal director)
 
1951 Take Care of My Little Girl (associate musical director)
 
1951 Bird of Paradise (associate musical director)
 
1951 Call Me Mister (vocal arranger - uncredited)
 
1950 My Blue Heaven (vocal director)
 
1950 Wabash Avenue (vocal director)
 
1949 Dancing in the Dark (vocal director)
 
1949 The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (vocal arranger)
 
1949 You're My Everything (vocal director)
 
1949 The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (vocal director)
 
1949 Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (vocal arranger - uncredited)
 
1949 Down to the Sea in Ships (vocal arranger - uncredited)
 
1948 So Dear to My Heart (vocal director)
 
1948 Melody Time (musical director)
 
1946 Song of the South (vocal supervisor)
 
1946 The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met (short) (musical director)
 
1946 Make Mine Music (associate music director)
 
1944 Step Lively (vocal director)
 
1944 Show Business (vocal director)
 
1943 Higher and Higher (vocal director)
 
1943 Nobody's Darling (vocal arranger)
 
1943 We've Never Been Licked (vocal arranger)
 
1943 Shantytown (vocal arranger - as Kenneth Darby)
 
1942 Ice-Capades Revue (music arranger - uncredited)
 
1942 Seven Days' Leave (music advisor, vocal advisor)
 
1939 At the Circus (music arranger: vocal and orchestral arrangements)
 
1939 The Wizard of Oz (orchestral and vocal arrangements)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (96 titles)
2012 Tu cara me suena (TV series)
– Episode #2.4 (2012) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2012 No me la puc treure del cap (TV series)
– Amor (2012) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2009 Hi havia una vegada el disc de La Marató (TV documentary) (writer: "Estima'm tendrament")
 
2009 Jeux de couple (short) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2008 Banda sonora (TV series)
– Episode #3.15 (2008) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2008 Punklandia (TV series documentary)
– Katupoikien laulu (2008) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2007 Elvis: A Generous Heart (video documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2007 Elvis: #1 Hit Performances (video) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2007 Elvis: Viva Las Vegas (TV documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2007 Good Morning America (TV series)
– Episode dated 16 August 2007 (2007) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2007 Kymmenen uutiset (TV series)
– Episode dated 15 August 2007 (2007) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2007 California Dreamin' (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2007 Elvis - Up Close and Personal (video documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2006 Elvis: The Ed Sullivan Shows (video documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2006 Elvis Presley: Love Me Tender (video) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2006 Today's Country Music (video) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2006 Elvis: Broadcasting Live (video) (writer: "Heartbreak Hotel")
 
2006 How I Met Your Mother (TV series)
– Nothing Good Happens After 2 AM (2006) (writer: "Love Me Tender" - uncredited)
 
2005 Elvis by the Presleys (TV documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2005 Elvis: Golden Greats (video) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2005 Elvis (TV movie) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2004 Elvis Presley: From the Beginning to the End (video documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2004 Elvis Has Left the Building (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2003 Estradilla: Agents & Elvis (TV movie) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2002 The Definitive Elvis: The Hollywood Years - Part I: 1956-1961 (video documentary) (writer: "Poor Boy", "Love Me Tender", "We're Gonna Move")
 
2002 The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years (video documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2002 Elvis Presley: His Early Performances (video documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
2002 Sinatra: The Classic Duets (TV documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender" - uncredited)
 
2000 Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970) (TV documentary) (writer: "Let Me", "Love Me Tender")
 
2000 Daydream Believers: The Monkees' Story (TV movie) (writer: "Love Me Tender" - uncredited)
 
1999 Man on the Moon (writer: "This Friendly World" 1959)
 
1999 Fanny and Elvis (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1999 Breakfast of Champions (writer: "Kalua Love Song of")
 
1996 Elvis: The Complete Story (video documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1993 Homicide: Life on the Street (TV series)
– Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (1993) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1993 Elvis in Hollywood (documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1990 Die Hard 2 (writer: "LOVE ME TENDER")
 
1990 Elvis in the Movies (documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1987 Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend (documentary) (lyrics: "The River of No Return" 1954 - uncredited)
 
1987 Adventures Beyond Belief (TV series) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1985 Elvis Gratton: Le king des kings (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1985 Blue Money (TV movie) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1981 Shifshuf Naim (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1981 This Is Elvis ("Love Me Tender")
 
1980 Touched by Love (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1980 Out of the Blue (writer: "Heartbreak Hotel")
 
1977 The Story of Elvis Presley (documentary) (writer: "Let Me", "We're Gonna Move", "Love Me Tender", "Poor Boy")
 
1973 Paper Moon (performer: "A Picture of Me Without You" 1935 - uncredited)
 
1972 Elvis on Tour (documentary) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1968 The Night Before Christmas (TV movie) (music: "'Twas the Night Before Christmas", "The Morning of Christmas")
 
1968 The Green Berets (arranger: "Ballad of the Green Berets" - uncredited)
 
1965 The Lawrence Welk Show (TV series)
– Songs of the Sun and Moon (1965) (writer: "Love Me Tender" - uncredited)
 
1965 Shindig! (TV series)
– Episode #1.34 (1965) (writer: "Poor Boy")
 
1962 How the West Was Won (music: "I'm Bound for the Promised Land" - uncredited, "Come Share My Life" 1962 - uncredited / lyrics: "How the West Was Won" 1962, "I'm Bound for the Promised Land" - uncredited, "Nine Hundred Miles from Home" 1962 - uncredited, "Come Share My Life" 1962 - uncredited, "On The Banks of Sacramento" 1962 - uncredited / performer: "How the West Was Won" 1962, "Shenandoah" - uncredited)
 
1961 The Bell Telephone Hour (TV series)
– A Trip to Christmas (1961) (music: "'Twas the Night Before Christmas'" - uncredited)
 
1961 The Fiend of Dope Island (music: "Forever Hold Me" / lyrics: "Forever Hold Me")
 
1960 Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley (TV special) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1958 Villa!! (music: "Men, Men, Men" / lyrics: "Men, Men, Men")
 
1958 Shower of Stars (TV series)
– Episode #4.7 (1958) (lyrics: "Two Little Girls From Little Rock" - uncredited)
 
1957 The Mark of the Hawk (writer: "This Man Is Mine")
 
1957 The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (TV series)
– Hairstyle for Harriet (1957) (writer: "Love Me Tender" - uncredited)
 
1956-1957 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
– Episode #10.16 (1957) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
– Episode #10.6 (1956) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
– Episode #9.51 (1956) (writer: "Love Me Tender")
 
1956 Bus Stop (writer: "The Bus Stop Song" 1956)
 
1956 The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV series)
– The Swordsman (1956) (writer: "Jim Bowie")
 
1956 Love Me Tender (writer: "LOVE ME TENDER", "LET ME", "POOR BOY", "WE'RE GONNA MOVE" / as Vera Matson)
 
1956 The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (writer: "Rock Around the Island")
 
1955 The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (lyrics: "Men, Men, Men" - uncredited, "I Challenge You" - uncredited)
 
1955 The Tall Men ("Tall Men")
 
1955 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV series)
 
1955 The Left Hand of God (writer: "A LOAF OF BREAD")
 
1955 How to Be Very, Very Popular (lyrics: "The Bristol Bell Song")
 
1954 Garden of Evil ("Aqui")
 
1954 River of No Return (lyrics: "River of No Return" - uncredited, "I'm Gonna File My Claim" - uncredited, "One Silver Dollar" - uncredited, "Down in the Meadow" - uncredited)
 
1954 Siege at Red River (lyrics: "Tapioca" - uncredited)
 
1953 How to Marry a Millionaire (lyrics: "New York" 1953 - uncredited)
 
1953 Vicki (writer: "Vicki")
 
1953 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (lyrics: "A Little Girl from Little Rock" 1949 - uncredited)
 
1953 Down Among the Sheltering Palms (writer: "THE DRUM CHANT")
 
1952 Stars and Stripes Forever (writer: "My Love Is a Weeping Willow" - uncredited / lyrics: "My Love Is a Weeping Willow" - uncredited, "When It's Springtime in New York" - uncredited)
 
1952 Night Without Sleep (lyrics: "Look at Me")
 
1952 Don't Bother to Knock (lyrics: "A Rollin' Stone" - uncredited)
 
1952 With a Song in My Heart (writer: "JIM'S TOASTY PEANUTS", "WONDERFUL HOME SWEET HOME")
 
1952 Rancho Notorious (music: "Get Away Young Man", "Gypsy Davey", "Legend of Chuck-A-Luck" / lyrics: "Get Away Young Man", "Gypsy Davey", "Legend of Chuck-A-Luck")
 
1951 Golden Girl (music: "Sunday Morning" - uncredited / lyrics: "Sunday Morning" - uncredited)
 
1950 A Ticket to Tomahawk (writer: "Oh, What a Forward Young Man You Are" - uncredited)
 
1950 Wabash Avenue (music: "I WISH I COULD SHIMMY LIKE MY SISTER KATE" - uncredited)
 
1949 Come to the Stable (performer: "Through a Long and Sleepless Night")
 
1949 You're My Everything (lyrics: "The White Magnolia Tree" - uncredited)
 
1946 Make Mine Music (writer: "Casey at the Bat" 1946 / music: "Make Mine Music" 1946 - uncredited / lyrics: "Make Mine Music" 1946 - uncredited)
 
1946 Song of the South (writer: "Who Wants To Live Like That?" - uncredited, "Let The Rain Pour Down" - uncredited, "All I Want" - uncredited)
 
1946 Blue Bayou (short) (performer: "Blue Bayou")
 
1943 False Faces (lyrics: "A Trifle on the Trifling Side")
 
1943 Hi, Buddy (arranger: "Army Air Corps Song")
 
1942 Holiday Inn (performer: "You're Easy to Dance With" 1942)
 
1942 The Chool Song (short) (writer: "The Chool Song")
 
1939 The Wizard of Oz (performer: "Munchkinland Medley: 'Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are', 'The House Began To Pitch', 'As Mayor of the Munchkin City', 'As Coroner, I Must Aver', 'Ding Dong The Witch is Dead', 'Lullaby League', 'Lollipop Guild' and 'We Welcome You to Munchkinland'" 1939 - uncredited)
 
Show ShowComposer (10 titles)
1968 The Night Before Christmas (TV movie)
 
1956-1958 The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV series)
– The Puma (1958)
– Man on the Street (1958)
– The Cave (1958)
– A Night in Tennessee (1958)
– Bad Medicine (1958)
See all 76 episodes »
 
1958 The Californians (TV series)
– China Doll (1958)
 
1955 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV series)
– The Buntline Special (1955) (uncredited)
 
1954 Once Upon a Wintertime (short)
 
1954 Little Toot (short)
 
1952 Rancho Notorious
 
1951 Meet Me After the Show
 
1950 The Brave Engineer (short)
 
1946 Casey at the Bat (short)
 
Show ShowActor (28 titles)
1952 Universal Cartoon Melodies: Song Dreams (short)
Quartet Member
 
1950 Sing Your Thanks (short)
Singer
 
1950 The Brave Engineer (short)
Singer (as The King's Men)
 
1949 Song of the Range (short)
Singer
 
1949 Sailing with a Song (short)
Singer
 
1946 Margie
Off-Screen Singer (voice) (uncredited)
 
1946 Make Mine Music
Ken Darby - King's Men Member (voice) (as Ken Darby Chorus)
 
1946 Old Dog Tray (short)
Singer
 
1944 Sing a Jingle
Singer (as The King's Men)
 
1943 You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith
Singer (as The King's Men)
 
1943 The Kansan
Member - The King's Men (uncredited)
 
1943 Follow the Band
Singer (as The King's Men)
 
1943 Hi, Buddy
Quartet Singer (as The King's Men)
 
1942 For Me and My Gal
Member - The King's Men (uncredited)
 
1942 Call Out the Marines
Member - The King's Men (uncredited)
 
1941 Two-Faced Woman
Member - The King's Men (uncredited)
 
1941 The Roundup
Musician/Cowhand (uncredited)
 
1940 Knights of the Range
Singing Cowhand (uncredited)
 
1940 Stagecoach War
Outlaw - Member, The King's Men (uncredited)
 
1940 The Showdown
Rider (member, The King's Men)
 
1939 Law of the Pampas
Member - The King's Men (uncredited)
 
1939 The Wizard of Oz
Munchkinland Mayor (voice) (uncredited)
 
1939 Renegade Trail
Rider (Member - The King's Men) (uncredited)
 
1939 Broadway Serenade
Singers - 'High Flyin' Number (uncredited)
 
1939 Honolulu
Groucho 1 (as The King's Men)
 
1938 Alexander's Ragtime Band
Army Quartet Member (uncredited)
 
1935 Thanks a Million
King's Men Singer (uncredited)
 
1933 Going Hollywood
Member - The King's Men (uncredited)
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
1994 That's Entertainment! III (documentary) (grateful acknowledgment: to the music arrangers and orchestrators)
 
Show ShowSelf (2 titles)
1954 Polovetzian Dances from Prince Igor (short)
Himself
 
1945 Music in the Sky (short)
Himself
 

Related Videos

The Kansan -- Wounded while stopping the James gang from robbing the local bank, a cowboy wakes up in the hospital to find that he's been elected town marshal... The Wizard of Oz -- Clip from The Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz -- Promo clip reviewing features and specs for the Ultimate Collector's Edition release.
See all 7 »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

He was featured, along with Cliff Edwards (the original Jiminy Cricket), Julietta Novis and The King's Men, on Decca Records' 1940 studio cast 78-rpm album of the songs from Walt Disney''s Pinocchio. This four-record set was later released as the reverse side of a Decca LP which also... See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Print Biography  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Ken Darby Chorus | Kenneth Darby | The Ken Darby Singers | The King's Men | Ken Darby's Octet
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

(When Walt Disney criticized his proposed score for Johnny Appleseed): "That is just a cross section of one man's opinion." See more »

Trivia:

His choral group, the Ken Darby Singers, sang backup for Bing Crosby on Crosby's original 78-RPM recording of "White Christmas." This version was not recorded directly from the soundtrack of Holiday Inn, the 1942 movie for which composer Irving Berlin wrote the song. Soundtrack albums for live action films did not come into being until 1947. See more »

Star Sign:

Taurus