Simmons was born on Aug. 6, 1900 in Evansville, IN; studied music with Arnold Habbe, and at the Van Stein Academy of Music with Heinrich von Stein; BA, Univ. of So. Cal.; also studied with Homer Grunn, Ignace Paderewski, Ottorino Respighi, Nadia Boulanger, and Gordon Jacob; toured the US as pianist for Hubbard Operalogues; organized the Musical Workshop, Los Angeles in 1938; composed the songs, Carnival, While roses fall, and Cradle song; the instrumental works, Impressions basques, Alice in Wonderland suite, Evening in old Vienna, and two string quartets, and the opera Red Riding Hood; he died on Aug. 21, 1971 in Sunland, Calif.
From the description of Collection of musical scores, recordings, programs and documents, 1900-1982. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 41950399
