Trotter, John Scott

John Scott Trotter was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1908. At the age of seven, using his sister’s piano lesson books and the family piano, he taught himself to play the instrument. His parents then sent him for formal music lessons. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study architecture. However, he and Hal Kemp, a childhood friend and fellow student at UNC, started a college band in 1925. Together they had musically entertained folks at home and once the Hal Kemp Orchestra began receiving recording contracts and international bookings, they traded their college education for music careers. In 1933, Kemp and Trotter made music history when the orchestra played at the Black Hawk Restaurant in Chicago for a national radio audience. The orchestra sound heard that night was largely the results of Trotter’s music arranging and thereafter became known as “The Hal Kemp Style.”

Trotter teamed with Bing Crosby in 1937 after they worked together in the motion picture “Pennies from Heaven” in 1936. Already an original in popular music, Crosby wanted a new music arranger and looked to Trotter to help enhance the Crosby style. They combined their talents for the next 17 years, Trotter most frequently directing and arranging Crosby’s music for radio, motion picture, and his Decca recordings. One of their most successful collaborations was Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” from the motion picture “Holiday Inn.” Trotter was also the music arranger and director in 1946 for the screenplay of “Abie’s Irish Rose,” music arranger and conductor for “Kiss the Boys Goodbye” in 1941, “Rhythm on the River” in 1940, and orchestrator for “Dr. Rhythm” in 1938, appearing as himself in the film with Bing Crosby.

When Crosby ended his Kraft Music Hall radio show in 1954, Trotter moved to television as the music director for “The George Gobel Show.” This association lasted for six years. In 1961, he was the composer for the pilot of the television drama, “Ben Casey,” and from 1964 to 1965, he and Crosby were again together on the television sitcom, “The Bing Crosby Show.” In 1966, Trotter began arranging music scores for the Bill Melendez, Sopwith Productions, Inc., animated cartoons for television, most notably the Charlie Brown-Peanuts and Babar the Elephant specials.

Trotter was known for his talent arranging classical music. He appeared as conductor in many national public events, including Ronald Reagan’s inaugural as Governor of California, patriotic shows during World War II and afterwards, television specials, and arranged music scores for Hollywood Academy Award shows. Trotter received an Oscar in 1971 for “A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” and in 1974, he received a Hall of Fame award for his participation as conductor of the 1942 Decca recording of Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.” He was actively involved in fund raising events for many charitable causes in California ranging from historic preservation to music education. Trotter died in 1975 in Los Angeles, California.

From the guide to the John Scott Trotter papers, 1908-1975, 1930-1970, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)