George Melachrino
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George Melachrino (born George Militiades 1 May 1909 in London, England — died 18 June 1965) was a musician, movie composer, and musical director who was English born of Greek and Italian descent. He was an accomplished player of the violin, viola, oboe, clarinet and saxophone.
As a young boy, George Melachrino had a love of music. At the age of five, he began composing and by the age of fourteen he rolled into the Trinity College of Music. In 1927, he began his career by singing and playing at the Savoy Hill Studios in London. For the next twelve years, he played in many different bands and orchestras. In the 1930s, Melachrino started working for bands lead by Ambrose and Bert Firman, and started playing on radio for the BBC. By 1939, he started his own band and secured a contract at the "Café de Paris". He joined the Army a year later. While in the army, He received training at the "Corps of Military Police" and became a P.T. Instructor. Melachrino also gained experience as a military musician, at the "Army Broadcasting Department", as Musical Director for the recording of entertainment for overseas forces, leading the British Band of the American Expeditionary Forces and the Orchestra Khaki. After the war, in 1945, he formed the "George Melachrino Orchestra", an orchestra that became synonymous with sweet and melodious music.
Melachrino frequently performed on BBC and American Armed Forces Radio. He vied with Mantovani in trying to dominate the post World War II easy listening audiences.
Melachrino has a "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
