George Bassman is credited as the conductor, arranger and/or composer on over 100 films, TV shows, and Broadway productions. He studied at the Boston Conservatory and then joined a jazz group as pianist before signing on as an arranger with Fletcher Henderson and then Andre Kostelanetz. In 1933 he wrote his most famous song, “I’m Getting Sentimental over You,” with Ned Washington, and it became Tommy Dorsey’s theme song.

He made the move to Hollywood in the mid-‘30s where he wrote music for Marx Brothers’ films, arranged George Gershwin’s music for A Damsel in Distress, and scored the cyclone, poppy field, and several Emerald City scenes for The Wizard of Oz. His film credits during the ‘40s alone number over two dozen and include both musicals and dramas--Babes in Arms, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Clock, Cabin in the Sky, and Best Foot Forward.

During the Red-baiting ‘50s he was blacklisted in Hollywood although he was hired by independent filmmakers to either conduct or write music for The Joe Louis Story and Marty. During this period he worked in TV and on Broadway, arranging the hit show Guys and Dolls in 1953 which was adapted for film in 1955.

His return to Hollywood in the ‘60s was not a triumphant one. He ran into differences on the set of Ride the High Country and worked on only two more films after that--The Great Chase and Mail Order Bride.

- Sandra Burlingame