Ken Darby

Kenneth Lorin Darby (May 13, 1909 – January 24, 1992) was a multifaceted American composer, vocal arranger, lyricist, and conductor whose contributions to music and film left an indelible mark. Throughout his career, he garnered significant recognition, winning three Academy Awards and a Grammy Award for his exceptional film scores. One of his early notable roles was providing the voice for the Munchkinland mayor in the iconic film The Wizard of Oz (1939), featuring Charlie Becker on screen.

Darby was also known for leading The Ken Darby Singers, a choral group that lent their harmonious vocals to Bing Crosby’s original 1942 recording of "White Christmas." They further showcased their talent by participating in the first album of songs from The Wizard of Oz, despite it not being a true soundtrack.

In the mid-1930s, Darby was a member of "The King's Men," a vocal quartet that collaborated with Paul Whiteman's orchestra and became regulars on the popular radio show Fibber McGee and Molly from 1940 to 1953. His creative flair extended to various MGM film soundtracks and the television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.

Notably, Darby composed "Love Me Tender," a hit for Elvis Presley, and served as vocal coach for Marilyn Monroe in films like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). An aficionado of Rex Stout's detective character Nero Wolfe, he penned The Brownstone House of Nero Wolfe (1983). Ken Darby passed away while working on his last book, Hollywood Holyland: The Filming and Scoring of 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' (1992), leaving behind a rich legacy in American music and film. He is interred at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.