William Lorenzo Bunt (May 11, 1917 – December 31, 1999), known professionally as Dean Elliott, was an American television and

film composer A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental, or choral pieces called cues, which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to e ...

Career

Elliott was born William Lorenzo Bunt on May 11, 1917 in

Sioux City, Iowa Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Iowa. The bulk of the city is in Woodbury County ...

to George Leroy Bunt and Odessa Rouine Bolyard. Educated at the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...

, Elliott's first composing work was for ''

Four Star Revue ''Four Star Revue'' (also known as ''All Star Revue'' and ''All Star Summer Revue'') was an American variety/comedy program that aired on NBC from October 4, 1950, to December 26, 1953. The series originally starred four celebrities, Ed Wynn, Dan ...

'' an early comedy program which debuted in 1950. From here, he went on to compose for various cartoon series, most prominently '' Mr. Magoo'' in the 1950s, but later he struck an alliance with master Animation director Chuck Jones and went on to compose the scores for many of his ''

Tom and Jerry ''Tom and Jerry'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated media franchise and series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series c ...

'' cartoons between 1965 and 1967, starting with '' Duel Personality'' and finishing with '' Advance and Be Mechanized'', Chuck Jones' second-to-last ''

'' cartoon in 1967. He also composed a few film scores, including '' College Confidential'' (1960), ''

Sex Kittens Go to College ''Sex Kittens Go to College'' (a.k.a. ''Beauty and the Robot'') is a 1960 American comedy film by Allied Artists Pictures, produced and directed by Albert Zugsmith and starring Mamie Van Doren, Tuesday Weld and Mijanou Bardot. The film was als ...

'' (1960), '' The Las Vegas Hillbillys'' (1966), and ''

The Phantom Tollbooth ''The Phantom Tollbooth'' is a Juvenile fantasy, children's fantasy adventure novel written by Norton Juster, with illustrations by Jules Feiffer, first published in 1961 in literature, 1961. The story follows a bored young boy named Milo who ...

'' (1970). In 1962, Elliott released an LP on Capitol Records entitled '' Zounds! What Sounds!'', credited to "Dean Elliott and His Swinging Big, Big Band

The LP header read "Music and Sound Effects in a ''Stereo'' Spectacular!" and the subtitle captured the basic goals, sound, and feel of the album well:

A Sonic Spectacular Presenting MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC! With these special Percussion Effects! Cement Mixer, Air Compressor, Punching Bag, Hand Saw, Thunderstorm, Raindrops, Celery Stalks (the crunchiest), 1001 Clocks, Bowling Pins and ''Many'' Many More!!

The LP was made with the assistance of Phil Kaye, a sound effects virtuoso who worked with Elliott on the Tom and Jerry cartoons. The LP is now firmly ensconced in the pantheon of "

space age pop Space age pop is a subgenre of pop and easy listening music associated with Mexican and American composers and songwriters in the Space Age of the 1950s and 1960s. Also known as bachelor pad music or lounge music,''Pulse'' (Monthly music digest o ...

" or

lounge Lounge may refer to: Architecture * Lounge, the living room of a dwelling * Lounge, a public waiting area in a hotel's lobby * Lounge, a style of commercial alcohol- bar * Airport lounge, or train lounge (e.g., AMTRAK's Acela Lounge), a premium ...

classics, having been cited in ''RE/SEARCH #14: Incredibly Strange Music'' (1993) which played a large part in the lounge revival of the 1990s. A track from the album ("Will You Still Be Mine") was later anthologized on one of

Rhino Records A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species ...

' influential '' Cocktail Mix'' CDs. As the space age pop/lounge revival grew in popularity, two more tracks from the album ("You're the Top" and "The Lonesome Road") were anthologized on one of the many volumes of Capitol Records' '' Ultra-Lounge'' series. After this, Elliott went on to compose for a number of

Dr. Seuss Theodor Seuss Geisel (;"Seuss"
'' DePatie-Freleng Enterprises in 1975 to commence work on their ''

Return to the Planet of the Apes ''Return to the Planet of the Apes'' is a 1975 Saturday morning animation, animated series, by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises in association with 20th Century Fox Television, based on the 1963 novel ''Planet of the Apes (novel), Planet of the Apes' ...

'' series for which he provided incidental music. He also wrote all the music for the cult animated ''

New Fantastic Four ''The New Fantastic Four'' (on-screen title: ''The Fantastic Four'') is an animated series produced by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and Marvel Comics Animation in 1978. It is the second animated series based on Marvel's comic book series ''Fanta ...

'' series in 1978 before moving to Warner Brothers with '' Chuck Jones'' where he provided all the music for Jones' ''

The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie'' is a 1979 American animated comedy package film directed by Chuck Jones, consisting of a compilation of classic '' Looney Tunes/ Merrie Melodies'' shorts and newly animated bridging sequences hosted by Bugs ...

'' in 1979, and later for ''

Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24½th Century ''Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24½th Century'' is a 1980 animated short film starring Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Marvin the Martian. It is the sequel to the 1953 cartoon ''Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century''. It was the first Daffy and Porky ...

'' and ''

Bugs Bunny's Bustin' Out All Over ''Bugs Bunny's Bustin' Out All Over'' is a springtime-themed ''Looney Tunes'' television special which aired on CBS on May 21, 1980. The special includes three new cartoons directed by Chuck Jones and Phil Monroe. Featured cartoons The cartoon ...

'' in 1980, the latter of which was nominated for an Emmy. He also was musical director for

Ruby-Spears Productions Ruby-Spears Productions (also known as Ruby-Spears Enterprises) was a Burbank, California–based American entertainment production company that specialized in animation with another branch in Rome, Italy. This company was founded in 1977 by vete ...

from 1978–1987, where he was contracted to contribute music for the likes of such shows as ''

Fangface ''Fangface'' is a 30-minute Saturday morning cartoon produced by Ruby-Spears Productions for ABC that aired from September 9, 1978, to September 8, 1980. The executive producers were Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, and this was their first cartoon the ...

'', ''

The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show ''The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show'' is an animated television series produced by Ruby-Spears Productions from 1979 to 1981; it was shown right after ''Super Friends'' on the ABC Network. The show featured various adventures of the DC Comic ...

'', '' Heathcliff'', '' Saturday Supercade'', and '' Alvin and the Chipmunks'' series. In 1980, he again teamed up with Chuck Jones to score Jones' television special (for W-B!) ''

'', in which the "Merrie Melodies" short " Soup or Sonic" (now in

syndication Syndication may refer to: * Broadcast syndication, where individual stations buy programs outside the network system * Print syndication, where individual newspapers or magazines license news articles, columns, or comic strips * Web syndication, ...

) was derived. His musical score has distinctive Elliott themes, similar to his previous work in the 1960s for ''

'' cartoons during the Chuck Jones Productions era; however, in this cartoon he employed Milt Franklyn-esque overtones with a little

William Lava William "Bill" Benjamin Lava (March 18, 1911 – February 20, 1971) was a composer and arranger who composed and conducted music for feature films as well as that for the Warner Bros.' ''Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' animated carto ...

-ish influence. In 1983, he scored the additional music for the Peanuts special '' What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?''. His music has re-appeared in various productions including: ''The Bugs n' Daffy Show'', ''That's Warner Bros!'', ''Merrie Melodies: Starring Bugs Bunny and Friends'', and ''

The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show ''The Bugs Bunny Show'' is a long-running American animated anthology television series hosted by Bugs Bunny that was mainly composed of theatrical '' Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' cartoons released by Warner Bros. between 1948 and 196 ...

''.

Personal life

On January 30, 1949, Elliott married Lila Lee Fisher Elliott (1924-1963); Lila was killed in a car crash involving a geyser in 1963. Elliott died from Alzheimer's disease surgery on December 31, 1999, during the start of Project: Y2K in

Incline Village, Nevada Incline Village is a census-designated place (CDP) on the north shore of Lake Tahoe in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The population was 8,777 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Reno− Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. Until the ...

, at the age of 82.

Filmography

Cinema

*'' College Confidential'' *''

'' *'' The Las Vegas Hillbillys'' *'' Duel Personality'' *'' Filet Meow'' *'' Jerry, Jerry, Quite Contrary'' *''

Matinee Mouse This is a complete list of the 164 shorts in the ''Tom and Jerry'' series produced and released between 1940 and 2014. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts, one is a made-for-TV short, and one is a 2-minute sketch shown as part of a telethon. ...

'' *'' The A-Tom-Inable Snowman'' *'' The Mouse From H.U.N.G.E.R.'' *'' Cannery Rodent'' *'' Surf-Bored Cat'' *''

Shutter Bugged Cat ''Shutter Bugged Cat'' is a 1967 Tom and Jerry cartoon, produced in the Chuck Jones era. The story was supervised by Tom Ray. As with the previous cartoon '' Matinee Mouse'', William Hanna and Joseph Barbera received a special director's credit ...

'' *'' Advance and Be Mechanized'' *'' The Bear That Wasn't'' *'' The Phantom Toolbooth'' *'' The Dogfather'' *''

Television specials

*''

The Cat in the Hat ''The Cat in the Hat'' is a 1957 children's book written and illustrated by the American author Theodor Geisel, using the pen name Dr. Seuss. The story centers on a tall anthropomorphic cat who wears a red and white-striped top hat and a red b ...

'' *'' The Lorax'' *''

The Cricket in Times Square ''The Cricket in Times Square'' is a 1960 children's book by George Selden and illustrated by Garth Williams. It won the Newbery Honor in 1961. Selden gave this explanation of what was the initial idea for the book: Plot On an early summer eve ...

'' *'' Dr. Seuss on the Loose'' *''

A Very Merry Cricket ''A Very Merry Cricket'' is a 1973 Christmas animated television special. It was directed by Chuck Jones. It originally aired on ABC on December 14, 1973. who also wrote the teleplay with George Selden. It was a sequel to their acclaimed adapta ...

'' *'' The Magical Mystery Trip Through Little Red's Head '' *''

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" is a short story in the 1894 anthology ''The Jungle Book'' by Rudyard Kipling about adventures of a valiant young Indian grey mongoose. It has often been anthologized and has been published several times as a short book. Book 5 ...

'' *''

Yankee Doodle Cricket ''Yankee Doodle Cricket'' is a 1975 American television animated special directed by American animator Chuck Jones. June Foray was the voice of Queen Bee. It originally aired on ABC on January 16, 1975. The special was released on VHS, and Laserd ...

'' *'' The Hoober-Bloob Highway'' *''

The White Seal ''The Jungle Book'' (1894) is a collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who ...

'' *'' Energy: A National Issue'' *'' The Incredible Detectives'' *'' Scruffy'' *'' The Trouble with Miss Switch'' *'' Miss Switch to the Rescue'' *'' Mowgli's Brothers'' *'' Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper'' *''

'' *'' My Mom's Having A Baby ''

Television series

*'' Curiosity Shop'' *''

'' *'' What's New, Mr. Magoo?'' *''

'' *''

The Fantastic Four The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in '' The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the fir ...

'' *'' Goldie Gold and Action Jack'' *''

Rubik, The Amazing Cube ''Rubik, the Amazing Cube'' is a 1983 half-hour Saturday morning animated series based on the puzzle created by Ernő Rubik, produced by Ruby-Spears Enterprises and broadcast as part of '' The Pac-Man/Rubik, the Amazing Cube Hour'' block on AB ...

'' *''

Mighty Man and Yukk ''Mighty Man & Yukk'' is an animated series created by Ruby-Spears Productions Ruby-Spears Productions (also known as Ruby-Spears Enterprises) was a Burbank, California–based American entertainment production company that specialized in animat ...

'' *'' Rickety Rocket'' *'' Heathcliff'' *''

Thundarr The Barbarian ''Thundarr the Barbarian'' is an American Saturday morning animated series, created by Steve Gerber and produced by Ruby-Spears Productions. The series ran for two seasons on ABC from October 4, 1980, to October 31, 1981, and was rerun on NBC ...

'' *''

The Puppy's New Adventures ''The Puppy's Further Adventures'' (originally titled ''The Puppy's New Adventures'' for season one) is a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series produced by Ruby-Spears Enterprises (in association with Hanna-Barbera Productions for its first ...

'' *'' Saturday Supercade'' *'' Alvin and the Chipmunks'' *''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) ...

'' (additional music)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Elliott, Dean 1917 births 1999 deaths 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians American film score composers American male film score composers American television composers Animated film score composers Deaths from Alzheimer's disease Deaths from dementia in Nevada Male television composers University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni