Mort Garson Canadian composer, arranger, songwriter and electronic music pioneer Date of Birth: 20.07.1924 Country: Canada

1. Biography of Mort Garson
2. Music Career
3. Electronic Music
4. Television and Film
5. The Apollo 11 Moon Landing
6. Legacy

Biography of Mort Garson

Mort Garson was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. He later moved to New York City where he studied at the Juilliard School. During his time in New York, Garson worked as a pianist and arranger to support himself until he was drafted into the army towards the end of World War II.

Music Career

After leaving the armed forces, Garson became a session musician, showcasing his talents as a composer, arranger, orchestrator, conductor, and pianist. In 1957, he co-wrote the hit single "Dynamite" for Brenda Lee, and in 1961, he worked on the British hit "Theme for a Dream" by Cliff Richard. In 1963, Garson composed the music for one of the most famous lounge hits of the 1960s, "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby & The Romantics. He also worked on two albums for Doris Day. Garson became a favorite among producers when it came to collaborating with pop groups with soft vocals and string ensembles, helping to create pleasant and easy listening compositions. Some of his notable releases include "Bossa Nova for All Ages" for Continentals, "Symphony for the Soul" for Total Eclipse, and "Sea Drift" for Dusk 'Til Dawn Orchestra. In 1966, Garson arranged "Guantanamera" for The Sandpipers, and in 1968, he provided string arrangements for the international hit "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" by Glen Campbell.

Electronic Music

In the late 1960s, Garson was one of the first arrangers and composers to work with the recently introduced Moog synthesizer. His electronic albums from that period are highly valued among collectors and enthusiasts of musical exoticism. One of his compositions, "The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds - Celestial Counterpoint," featured twelve tracks, each representing a zodiac sign. Another album, "The Wozard of Iz," became a psychedelic satire on "The Wizard of Oz," featuring lyrics by Jacques Wilson, nature sound effects by Bernie Krause, and the voice of Suzie Jane Hokom as the voice of Dorothy.

Television and Film

Garson also worked extensively in television and film, composing numerous musical pieces for a variety of projects, ranging from horror-comedy film "Beware! The Blob!" to the comedy "The Kentucky Fried Movie" and even creating theme music for the National Geographic channel.

The Apollo 11 Moon Landing

One of Garson's works was used as additional musical accompaniment during the television broadcast of the Apollo 11 mission when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in 1969. Garson said, "Electronic sounds are the only ones that suit space travel... The film 'The Apollo' shows various aspects of the flight – liftoff, separation of rocket stages, moon scenes from close up, astronauts playing games on the ship, and the Earthrise visible from the moon. The film needs music. It should echo the sounds of the rocket launch and even convey the disturbances you hear when astronauts report from space."

Legacy

Continuing his exploration of space-themed music, Garson stated, "People are accustomed not only to seeing but also to hearing outer space. That's why I used voluminous symphonic sounds during liftoff. Some jazzy stuff when people are floating around, bouncing off each other, like bouncing balls in zero gravity. Psychedelic music for sequences showing negative film effects and diffused colors inside the spacecraft. And a pleasant melody for the moon. After all, the moon, as it was, remains a beautiful companion to the Earth." Garson passed away on January 4, 2008, in San Francisco at the age of 84. He is survived by his daughter and grandson.