Ken Darby

Composer

Birthday May 13, 1909

Birth Sign Taurus

Birthplace Nebraska

DEATH DATE Jan 24, 1992 (82)

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About

Three-time Academy Award co-winner for The King and I from 1956, South Pacific from 1958, and Porgy and Bess from 1959. His choral group, The Ken Darby Singers, provided the backup vocals for Bing Crosby's original 1942 White Christmas recording.

Before Fame

He provided the vocals for the Mayor of Munchkinland in the classic The Wizard of Oz from 1939.

Trivia

He wrote The Brownstone House of Nero Wolfe in 1983 as an outgrowth of his passion for author Rex Stout's legendary detective.

Family Life

He signed over the rights for composition to the Elvis Presley hit "Love Me Tender" to his wife Vera Matson.

Associated With

He was Marilyn Monroe's vocal coach on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes from 1953 and There's No Business Like Show Business from 1954.