Biography
Jack Elliott was an American composer, conductor, arranger and television producer. Born Irwin Elliott Zucker on 6 August 1927 in Hartford, Connecticut, he graduated from the Hartt School of Music and studied composition with Arnold Franchetti, Isadore Freed, Bohuslav Martinů and Lukas Foss. He worked as a jazz pianist in New York and Paris before moving to California, where Judy Garland brought him in as an arranger for her television show.
Elliott scored numerous films, including Where's Poppa? (1970), Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971), Oh, God! (1977), The Jerk (1979) and Sibling Rivalry (1990). On television he composed the main title theme for Night Court (1984) and co-wrote themes for Barney Miller (1975) and Charlie's Angels (1976) with Allyn Ferguson. He served as music director for The Love Boat (1977) and many other series.
He co-founded the New American Orchestra, later renamed the American Jazz Philharmonic, and was music director of the Henry Mancini Institute. Elliott directed the orchestra for the Grammy Awards for 30 consecutive years and served in similar roles for the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards and the 1984 Summer Olympics. He died on 18 August 2001 in Los Angeles.
