Composer. Born Kenneth Lorin Darby in Hebron Nebraska, he was a composer, vocal arranger, lyricist and conductor. Early in his career he led the choral group, The Ken Darby Singers, which sang backup for Bing Crosby on the original 1942 Decca Records studio recording of "White Christmas". He also led and performed as part of a vocal quartet "The King's Men", which participated on the soundtracks of several MGM films. He was a composer and production supervisor for Walt Disney Studios, vocal coach for artist Marilyn Monroe for the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953) and principal composer of the Elvis Presley film "Love Me Tender" (1956). He was nominated for six musical score Academy Awards winning three for "The King and I" (1956), "Porgy and Bess" (1959) and "Camelot" (1961). He also won the Best Soundtrack Album, Original Cast, Movie or Television Grammy Award for "Porgy and Bess" (1959). He died in Sherman Oaks, California at age 82.
Composer. Born Kenneth Lorin Darby in Hebron Nebraska, he was a composer, vocal arranger, lyricist and conductor. Early in his career he led the choral group, The Ken Darby Singers, which sang backup for Bing Crosby on the original 1942 Decca Records studio recording of "White Christmas". He also led and performed as part of a vocal quartet "The King's Men", which participated on the soundtracks of several MGM films. He was a composer and production supervisor for Walt Disney Studios, vocal coach for artist Marilyn Monroe for the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953) and principal composer of the Elvis Presley film "Love Me Tender" (1956). He was nominated for six musical score Academy Awards winning three for "The King and I" (1956), "Porgy and Bess" (1959) and "Camelot" (1961). He also won the Best Soundtrack Album, Original Cast, Movie or Television Grammy Award for "Porgy and Bess" (1959). He died in Sherman Oaks, California at age 82.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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