Louis Silvers

American film composer (1889–1954)
Louis Silvers
Silvers in 1921
Silvers in 1921
Background information
Birth nameLouis Silberstein
Also known asLou Silvers
Born(1889-09-06)September 6, 1889
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 26, 1954(1954-03-26) (aged 64)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film composer
Spouse(s)Janet Adair
Musical artist

Louis "Lou" Silvers (né Louis Silberstein; September 6, 1889 – March 26, 1954) was an American film score composer whose work has been used in more than 250 movies. In 1935, he won the first Academy Award for Best Original Score for One Night of Love.[1]

Early life

Silvers was born in New York City.

Career

Silvers scored the sound sequences in the D. W. Griffith film Dream Street (1921), and scored the part-talking feature film The Jazz Singer (1927).[2] He was also music director for Lux Radio Theater for most of its long run (1934–1955).

He is the composer of the song "April Showers" (1921).[3]

Personal life and death

Silvers was married to Janet Adair. On March 26, 1954, Silvers died of a heart ailment in Hollywood, California.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Film
1935 Academy Award Won Best Music, Score One Night of Love
1938 Nominated Best Music, Score In Old Chicago
1939 Nominated Best Music, Original Score Suez
1940 Nominated Best Music, Scoring Swanee River

Selected filmography

  • Sonny Boy (1929)
  • No Greater Glory (1934)
  • The Girl Friend (1935)
  • A Message to Garcia (1936)
  • Private Number (1936)

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ^ ASCAP, 1980, p. 465.
  2. ^ Gammond 1991, p. 529.
  3. ^ Copyrights, July 15, 1921, p. 1078.

References

    "April Showers," B.G. DeSylva (words), Silvers (music).
    1. Vol. 16. Part 2. September 1921. No. 9. ©15 July 1921; E 515575 (Class E; musical composition); Harms, Inc. p. 1078.
  • Limbacher, James; Wright, H. Stephen Jr. (1991). "Louis Silvers" → Keeping Score – Film and Television Music, 1980–1988 (with additional coverage of 1921–1979). Scarecrow Press. pp. 7, 11, 617. ISBN 9780810824539 – via Internet Archive (Boston Public Library). LCCN 91-21180; ISBN 0-8108-2453-1; OCLC 23975741 (all editions).
  • "Louis Silberstein (born September 6, 1889)". Sworn July 5, 1922 → "U.S., Passport Applications, 1795–1925." → "Louis Silberstein." Roll 2054 → Certificates: 201600–201975; 5 July 1922 – 7 July 1922 (digital images 330 & 331 of 630). NARA – via Ancestry.com.
  • "Louis Silvers" (born September 5, 1889) → "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918." → "New York City" → "Manuel Montero" to "George Zuvick" (digital images 2358 & 2359 of 4239). New York: NARA Microfilm Publications – via FamilySearch.
  • Gammond, Peter (1991). "Silvers, Louis" → Oxford Companion to Popular Music. p. 529 – via Internet Archive (Arcadia Fund).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) LCCN 90-14209; ISBN 0-1931-1323-6.

External links

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