Ian Fraser obit

Ian Fraser, Famed Composer for TV and Film, Dies at 81

He won 11 Emmys from 32 nominations and collaborated often with Julie Andrews

 He was not on the list.

Ian Fraser, whose 11 Emmy Awards and 32 nominations for outstanding music direction made him the most honored composer/conductor in the history of television, has died. He was 81.

The British native, who was known for his long association with singer-actress Julie Andrews, died of cancer Friday at his Los Angeles home, his daughter, Tiffany, told the Los Angeles Times.

Survivors also include his wife, actress Judee Morton, and their son, Neal, a top chef who with his wife, Amy, has been behind such well-regarded L.A.-area restaurants as Grace, BLD and Vibiana.

Fraser first worked with Andrews in 1972 as vocal arranger for her Emmy-winning weekly ABC variety hour. He became her musical director the following year when they recorded the first of their two Christmas albums. His 1995 and 1997 Broadway albums with Andrews were Grammy Award nominees.

Fraser returned to Broadway with Andrews in 1995 to conduct Victor/Victoria for the stage, and he composed and performed music to her narration for the accompanying CD of her 2003 children’s book, Simeon’s Gift.

In 2006, he and lyricist John Bucchino composed the songs for the children’s musical version of Simeon’s Gift.

Fraser received an Academy Award nomination for the musical film Scrooge (1970), starring Albert Finney, and worked on such films as Hopscotch (1980), First Monday in October (1981) and Zorro: The Gay Blade (1981).

Fraser conducted the orchestra for the 1984 Oscar telecast and served as musical director for the 1984, 1993 and 2002 Emmy Awards.

“Ian will be remembered by all who had the great fortune to know and work with him as a man of great taste and talent, intelligence and warmth and a wonderful sense of humor and fun,” Television Academy chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum said in a statement.

Fraser was in the midst of his 10th term as the Music Peer Group governor at the TV Academy.

In 1977, Fraser received his first career Emmy for his musical direction of America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music. Other than 1979 and 2000, he received at least one Emmy nom in every year through 2005.

He was nominated one last time in 2013 for the special Christmas in Washington.

Fraser also contributed to the iconic “The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth” duet between Bing Crosby and David Bowie in 1977 on Crosby’s last Christmas TV special.

Fraser came to New York in 1962 with Anthony Newley‘s Stop the World, I Want to Get Off for which he was musical director and arranger of the original London and Broadway productions.

Composer

Ronald Reagan, Pat Boone, Natalie Cole, Nancy Reagan, Amy Grant, and Tom Brokaw in Christmas in Washington (2008)

Christmas in Washington

TV Special

Composer

2008

 

Rider Strong in Julie (1992)

Julie

7.5

TV Series

Composer (score by)

1992

1 episode

 

America's Tribute to Bob Hope (1988)

America's Tribute to Bob Hope

7.8

TV Special

Composer

1988

 

We the People 200: The Constitutional Gala

6.2

TV Special

Composer

1987

 

Andy Williams and the NBC Kids: Easter in Rome

TV Special

Composer

1987

 

Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa

7.5

TV Special

Composer

1985

 

David Bowie & Bing Crosby: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy (1982)

David Bowie & Bing Crosby: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

7.2

Music Video

Composer

1982

 

Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice (1982)

Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice

7.4

TV Movie

Composer

1982

 

Zorro: The Gay Blade (1981)

Zorro: The Gay Blade

6.2

Composer (uncredited)

1981

 

Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson in Hopscotch (1980)

Hopscotch

7.1

Composer (uncredited)

1980

 

Ann-Margret: Hollywood Movie Girls

8.2

TV Special

Composer

1980

 

Torn Between Two Lovers (1979)

Torn Between Two Lovers

5.8

TV Movie

Composer

1979

 

Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Kenny Baker, and Peter Mayhew in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

The Star Wars Holiday Special

2.2

TV Movie

Composer

1978

 

The Anthony Newley Show

TV Special

Composer

1971

 

With Love, Sophia

8.3

TV Special

Composer

1967

 

Music Department

Star Wars Audio Comics: YouTube Channel (2014)

Star Wars Audio Comics: YouTube Channel

7.6

TV Series

reused music

2016

1 episode

 

Christmas in Washington

TV Special

musical director

2012

 

Christmas in Washington

7.5

TV Special

musical director

2011

 

Ronald Reagan, Pat Boone, Natalie Cole, Nancy Reagan, Amy Grant, and Tom Brokaw in Christmas in Washington (2008)

Christmas in Washington

TV Special

music arranger

2008

 

AFI's 10 Top 10: America's 10 Greatest Films in 10 Classic Genres

7.4

TV Special

music director

2008

 

Christmas in Washington

TV Special

musical director

2007

 

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes: America's Greatest Quips, Comebacks and Catchphrases

7.7

TV Special

music arranger

musical director

2005

 

Christmas in Washington

3.3

TV Special

musical director

2004

 

Christmas in Washington

7.9

TV Special

musical director

2003

 

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes & Villains (2003)

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes & Villains

7.3

TV Special

music arranger

musical director

2003

 

Christmas in Washington

7.3

TV Special

musical director

2002

 

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories (2002)

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories

6.6

TV Special

music arranger

musical director

2002

 

Christmas in Washington (2001)

Christmas in Washington

6.9

TV Special

musical director

2001

 

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies (2001)

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies

7.2

TV Special

musical director

2001

 

Christmas in Washington

4.7

TV Special

musical director

2000

 

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies

6.5

TV Special

musical director

2000

 

Christmas in Washington (1999)

Christmas in Washington

9.2

TV Special

musical director

1999

 

Disney's American Teacher Awards

TV Special

music arranger

musical director

1999

 

Christmas in Washington

5.0

TV Special

musical director

1998

 

Michael Crawford in Concert (1998)

Michael Crawford in Concert

8.6

TV Special

musical director

1998

 

Snowden on Ice (1997)

Snowden on Ice

8.0

TV Movie

music arranger

musical director

1997

 

The 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala: An American Journey

8.5

TV Special

musical director

1997

 

John Lithgow, Jane Curtin, Kristen Johnston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and French Stewart in 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996)

Christmas in Washington

5.1

TV Special

musical director

1996

 

Christmas in Washington

TV Special

musical director

1995

 

Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria (1995)

Victor/Victoria

7.7

TV Movie

conductor

musical director

vocal arrangements

1995

 

Great Performances (1971)

Great Performances

7.9

TV Series

conductor

orchestrator

musical director

1987–1995

3 episodes

 

Christmas in Washington

TV Special

musical director

1994

 

The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards

5.1

TV Special

musical director

1994

 

The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards

TV Special

music director

1993

 

The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1993)

The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

6.8

TV Special

musical director

1993

 

The 52nd Presidential Inaugural Gala

9.1

TV Special

music arranger

1993

 

Christmas in Washington

7.2

TV Special

musical director

1991

 

The 45th Annual Tony Awards (1991)

The 45th Annual Tony Awards

7.2

TV Special

musical director: Ms. Andrews

1991

 

The 1st Annual American Teacher Awards (1990)

The 1st Annual American Teacher Awards

TV Special

music arranger

music director

1990

 

Julie & Carol: Together Again (1989)

Julie & Carol: Together Again

9.2

TV Movie

musical director

1989

 

Lauren Bacall and Neil Marcus in From the Heart... The First International Very Special Arts Festival (1989)

From the Heart... The First International Very Special Arts Festival

TV Special

musical director

1989

 

5th Annual TV Academy Hall of Fame

TV Special

musical director

1989

 

Christmas in Washington

7.0

TV Special

musical director

1988

 

Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas (1987)

Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas

8.8

TV Movie

conductor

musical director

1987

 

Andy Williams and the NBC Kids: Easter in Rome

TV Special

musical director

1987

 

Drew Barrymore, Keanu Reeves, Pat Morita, and Jill Schoelen in Babes in Toyland (1986)

Babes in Toyland

5.2

TV Movie

music conducted by

music supervised by

1986

 

The 3rd Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame Awards

TV Special

musical director

1986

 

Christmas in Washington

TV Special

arranger

music director

1984

 

Shelley Long in The 36th Primetime Emmy Awards (1984)

The 36th Primetime Emmy Awards

5.1

TV Special

musical director

1984

 

The 56th Annual Academy Awards (1984)

The 56th Annual Academy Awards

6.0

TV Special

musical director

1984

 

Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)

Twilight Zone: The Movie

6.4

musician: keyboards (uncredited)

1983

 

Christmas in Washington

TV Special

musical director

1982

 

EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration (1982)

EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration

7.3

TV Special

musical director

1982

 

Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary

6.2

TV Special

musical director

1982

 

Walt Disney in The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.4

TV Series

musical director

1981

1 episode

 

First Monday in October (1981)

First Monday in October

6.4

composer: additional music

conductor

music adaptor (uncredited)

1981

 

Zorro: The Gay Blade (1981)

Zorro: The Gay Blade

6.2

conductor

music adaptor

1981

 

Linda in Wonderland

5.4

TV Movie

musical director

1980

 

Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson in Hopscotch (1980)

Hopscotch

7.1

conductor

music adaptor

1980

 

Shirley MacLaine... 'Every Little Movement'

8.3

TV Movie

musical director

1980

 

"Baryshnikov On Broadway With Liza Minnelli,"

Baryshnikov on Broadway

8.5

TV Special

musical director

1980

 

Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, and Persis Khambatta in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

6.4

musician: piano (uncredited)

1979

 

Sammy Stops the World (1979)

Sammy Stops the World

6.3

music arranger

orchestrator

1979

 

Torn Between Two Lovers (1979)

Torn Between Two Lovers

5.8

TV Movie

conductor

1979

 

Rockette: A Holiday Tribute to Radio City Music Hall

7.5

TV Special

music director

1978

 

Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Kenny Baker, and Peter Mayhew in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

The Star Wars Holiday Special

2.2

TV Movie

conductor

1978

 

Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin

8.9

TV Special

musical arrangements

musical director

1978

 

The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots

8.0

TV Movie

musical director

1978

 

Bing Crosby in Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas (1977)

Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas

8.0

TV Special

musical director

1977

 

Richard Rodgers in America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music (1976)

America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music

7.4

TV Special

musical director

1976

 

Gene Kelly and Dorothy Hamill in The Dorothy Hamill Special (1976)

The Dorothy Hamill Special

6.8

TV Special

musical director

1976

 

The Bell Telephone Jubilee (1976)

The Bell Telephone Jubilee

7.0

TV Movie

conductor

1976

 

Mia Farrow and Danny Kaye in Peter Pan (1976)

Peter Pan

6.6

TV Movie

conductor

music arranger

music supervisor

1976

 

Julie Andrews in Julie: My Favorite Things (1975)

Julie: My Favorite Things

6.5

TV Movie

music arranger

music supervisor

1975

 

Julie Andrews and Jackie Gleason in Julie and Jackie: How Sweet It Is (1974)

Julie and Jackie: How Sweet It Is

8.6

TV Special

music supervisor

1974

 

Julie's Christmas Special (1973)

Julie's Christmas Special

7.3

TV Special

music supervisor

1973

 

Julie Andrews and Jerry Nelson in Julie on Sesame Street (1973)

Julie on Sesame Street

7.4

TV Special

music supervisor

1973

 

"The Julie Andrews Hour" Julie Andrews

The Julie Andrews Hour

8.8

TV Series

musical associate

1972–1973

24 episodes

 

Alec Guinness, Albert Finney, Richard Beaumont, David Collings, Frances Cuka, Philip DaCosta, Edith Evans, Derek Francis, Gaynor Hodgson, Raymond Hoskins, Gordon Jackson, Roy Kinnear, Michael Medwin, Kenneth More, Laurence Naismith, Suzanne Neve, Anton Rodgers, Paddy Stone, and Kay Walsh in Scrooge (1970)

Scrooge

7.5

conductor

music supervisor

1970

 

Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

6.8

associate musical supervisor

1969

 

Doctor Dolittle (1967)

Doctor Dolittle

6.2

vocal supervisor

1967

 

Dick Emery, Cardew Robinson, and George Latshaw in Quillow and the Giant (1961)

Quillow and the Giant

TV Movie

music arranged by

1961

 

The Johnny Darling Show

TV Special

orchestrator

1961

 

Soundtrack

Janky Dah (2023)

Janky Dah

Podcast Series

writer: "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy"

2024

1 episode

 

The 25 Songs of Christmas (2017)

The 25 Songs of Christmas

TV Movie

lyrics: "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (1977/1941)"

music: "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (1977/1941)"

2017

 

No me la puc treure del cap (2010)

No me la puc treure del cap

6.3

TV Series

writer: "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth"

2011

1 episode

 

Jimmy Fallon in Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009)

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

6.7

TV Series

writer: "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" (uncredited)

2010

1 episode

 

Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas (1987)

Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas

8.8

TV Movie

performer: "The Sound of Christmas"

1987

 

Wil Wheaton, John Carradine, Dom DeLuise, Derek Jacobi, Hermione Baddeley, Elizabeth Hartman, and Arthur Malet in The Secret of NIMH (1982)

The Secret of NIMH

7.5

arranger: "Flying Dreams"

1982

 

First Monday in October (1981)

First Monday in October

6.4

arranger: "Hornpipe", "The Washington Post", "The Thunderer" (uncredited)

1981

 

Bing Crosby in Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas (1977)

Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas

8.0

TV Special

writer: "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" (uncredited)

1977

 

Graham Kennedy in The Graham Kennedy Show (1972)

The Graham Kennedy Show

6.9

TV Series

writer: "There's No Such Thing as Love"

1973

1 episode

 

Self

Danny Kaye International Children Award for Unicef

7.3

TV Special

Self - Conductor

1991

 

The 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1988)

The 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

6.0

TV Special

Self - Winner

1988

 

Archive Footage

Andy Samberg in The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards (2015)

The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards

6.4

TV Special

Self - In Memoriam (archive footage)

2015