Charles Previn (January 11, 1888 – September 21, 1973) was an American film composer who was active at
Universal in
Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. Before being based in Hollywood, Previn arranged music for over 100 Broadway productions.[1]
Previn was born in
Brooklyn to Henrietta Giballe and the rabbi Morris Previn, who a year earlier had emigrated from
Graudenz via
Glasgow to the United States.[2] He graduated from Brooklyn High School and obtained a bachelor's degree from
Cornell University in 1910. He obtained a master's degree from
New York College of Music.
From 1936 to 1944, Previn was musical director at
Universal, overseeing everything from horror pictures to
Arabian Nights fantasies. He was a cousin of the father of German-born composer, pianist, and conductor
André Previn and TV and film director
Steve Previn (brothers).[3] He died in Los Angeles, aged 85.
Professional career
Musician and conductor of
vaudeville and musical comedy
Conductor of NBC's Camel Pleasure Hour in 1930, featuring cornetist
Bix Beiderbecke
Conductor on the NBC radio series Silken Strings from 1934 through 1936
1936–1944 — Musical director, arranger, composer and conductor at
Universal. While there, Previn accumulated over 225 films to his credit, including most of
Deanna Durbin's films.
William Oliver Previn (19 June 1896, New York City – 16 August 1978,
Washington, D.C.)
Stanley S. Previn (3 August 1899 – November 1973, Los Angeles)
References
General references
Biography Index, A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines, Volume 1: January 1946 – July 1949,
H. W. Wilson Company, New York (1949)
Biography Index, A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines, Volume 10: September 1973 – August 1976, H. W. Wilson Company, New York (1977)
Who Was Who on Screen, Third edition, by Evelyn Mack Truitt,
R.R. Bowker, New York (1983)
Who's Who in Hollywood, the largest cast of international film personalities ever assembled, two volumes, by David Ragan, New York: Facts on File, New York (1992)
Inline citations
^"Previn Succeeds Rapee", Stars and Stripes Newspaper, July 27, 1945