Bronisław Kaper | |
---|---|
Birth name | Bronisław Kaper |
Also known as | Bronislau Kaper, Bronsilaw Kaper, Bronislaw Kapper, Benjamin Kapper, and Edward Kane |
Born | February 5, 1902 |
Origin | Warsaw, Poland |
Died | April 26, 1983 Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
(aged 81)
Occupation(s) | Composer |
Bronisław Kaper ([brɔniswaf ˈkapɛr], February 5, 1902 – April 26, 1983) was a Polish film composer who scored films and musical theater in Germany, France, and the USA. The American immigration authorities misspelled his name as Bronislau Kaper. He was also variously credited as Bronislaw Kaper, Bronislaw Kapper, Benjamin Kapper, and Edward Kane.
Kaper is now perhaps best remembered as the composer of the jazz standards "On Green Dolphin Street" (lyrics by Ned Washington) and "Invitation" (lyrics by Paul Francis Webster) which were originally the respective title tracks for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's films Green Dolphin Street (1947) and Invitation (1952). He also scored the MGM film musical Lili (1953), MGM's 1962 remake of Mutiny on the Bounty, and the TV series The F.B.I. (1965–1974).
Bronisław Kaper began playing the piano at the age of six, and soon demonstrated considerable talent on this instrument. He studied composition and piano at the Warsaw Conservatory, and law at Warsaw University, in deference to his father's wishes. Soon after completing his studies, Kaper went to Berlin - then a city with many theaters and cabarets, where many artists from Eastern Europe - mainly Russia, Poland and Hungary were trying their luck.