Biography
Nacio Herb Brown was an American composer of popular songs, film scores and Broadway music. Born Ignacio Herbert Brown in Deming, New Mexico, he moved with his family to Los Angeles in 1901 and later worked as a realtor before becoming a full-time songwriter in the early 1920s.
From 1928 he was employed by MGM to compose for sound films, often collaborating with lyricist Arthur Freed. Their songs include those featured in The Broadway Melody (1929), Dancing Lady (1933) and Ziegfeld Girl (1941). Brown also contributed to Broadway productions such as Take a Chance.
He is best known for the score of the 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain, which drew heavily on his earlier MGM work. Brown died in San Francisco in 1964.
