Scharf, Walter, 1910-2003

Walter Scharf was a composer best known for his musical theater and motion picture scores. He was born in New York in 1910. His credits included more than 200 major motion pictures, among them "Funny Girl," "Holiday Inn," "Hans Christian Anderson," "The Nutty Professor," "The Cheyenne Social Club," "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," "Walking Tall" and other films, as well as many "Jacques Cousteau" and "National Geographic" documentaries. On television, he was the music director, arranger, and composer for series and specials by such notables as Shirley Temple, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Victor Borge and Donald O'Connor. Scharf received eleven Oscar nominations, including 9 for composing motion picture scores, and one for composing (with lyricist Don Black) the song "Ben."

From the description of Walter Scharf papers, 1949-1988. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 70181037