Paul J. Smith (October 30, 1906 – January 25, 1985) was an American music composer and violinist best known for his work at

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

Life and career

Smith was born in

Calumet, Michigan Calumet ( or ) is a village in Calumet Township, Houghton County, in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, that was once at the center of the mining industry of the Upper Peninsula. Also known as Red Jacket, the village includes the ...

on October 30, 1906. Upon graduating high school, he studied music at The College of Idaho from 1923 to 1925 before he was accepted into the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Illinois. His abilities in theory and composition earned him a scholarship to study music theory at

Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

, however, it is unclear if he ever pursued this invitation. Smith spent much of his life working at

as composer for many of its films' scores, animated and live-action alike, movie and television alike; from 1962 to 1963, he also composed music for '' Leave It to Beaver''. In ''

Fantasia Fantasia International Film Festival (also known as Fantasia-fest, FanTasia, and Fant-Asia) is a film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996. Regularly held in July of each year, it is valued by both hardcor ...

'', he is one of the studio employees in the orchestra. He also composed the scores for several of the '' True-Life Adventures'' episodes. In 1950, Smith and

Oliver Wallace Oliver George Wallace (August 6, 1887 – September 15, 1963) was an English composer and conductor.''Home Front Heroes: A Biographical Dictionary of Americans During Wartime'', Volume 3, ed. Benjamin F. Shearer (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 200 ...

composed the musical score of Disney's ''Cinderella''. Smith's main collaborator and partner was Hazel "Gil" George, who wrote the song title for '' The Light in the Forest'' with him and

Lawrence Edward Watkin Lawrence Edward Watkin (December 9, 1901 – December 16, 1981) was an American writer and film producer. He was known primarily as a scriptwriter for a series of 1950s Walt Disney films. Life Watkin was born in Camden (town), New York in 1901. ...

. Another one of Smith's collaborator was

George Bruns George Edward Bruns (July 3, 1914 – May 23, 1983) was an American composer of music for film and television. His accolades include four Academy Award nominations, and three Grammy Award nominations. He is mainly known for his compositions for ...

who worked with him on films like '' Westward Ho the Wagons!''. Smith also did the stock music for the '' Blondie'' series of the late 1940s and early 1950s. He won an

Academy Award for Best Original Score The Academy Award for Best Original Score is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by t ...

with Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for ''

Pinocchio Pinocchio ( , ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel '' The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a Tuscan ...

'', which was his first and only Oscar win. Smith received seven more Oscar nominations for ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'', ''Saludos Amigos'', ''Victory Through Air Power'', ''The Three Caballeros'', ''Song of the South'', ''Cinderella'' and ''Perri''.

Death

Smith died on January 25, 1985, in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from 191,719 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth-larges ...

, from

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As ...

at age 78. In 1994, he was posthumously honored as a Disney Legend.

Animation scores

*'' Thru the Mirror'', 1936 *'' Don Donald'', 1937 *''

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is a 19th-century German fairy tale that is today known widely across the Western world. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection '' Grimms' Fairy Tales'' and numbered as ...

'', 1937 *'' Donald's Nephews'', 1938 *''

The Practical Pig ''The Practical Pig'' is a '' Silly Symphony'' cartoon. It was released on February 24, 1939, and directed by Dick Rickard. It was the fourth and final cartoon starring The Three Pigs.Pinocchio Pinocchio ( , ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel '' The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a Tuscan ...

'', 1940 *'' Bone Trouble'', 1940 *''

'', 1940 (violinist in orchestra) *''

Fire Chief A fire chief or fire commissioner is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department. Nomenclature Various official English-language titles for a fire chief include ''fire chief'', ''chief fire officer'' and ''fire commissioner' ...

'', 1940 *'' Pluto's Playmate'', 1941 *'' Canine Caddy'', 1941 *'' A Gentleman's Gentleman'', 1941 *'' The Reluctant Dragon'' (additional music) *''

Donald Gets Drafted ''Donald Gets Drafted'' is a 1942 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The cartoon has Donald Duck being drafted into the U. S. Army during World War II and follows his introduc ...

'', 1942 *''

Bambi ''Bambi'' is a 1942 American animated drama film directed by David Hand (supervising a team of sequence directors), produced by Walt Disney and based on the 1923 book ''Bambi, a Life in the Woods'' by Austrian author and hunter Felix Salten ...

'', 1942 (orchestration) *''

Saludos Amigos ''Saludos Amigos'' ( Spanish for "Greetings, Friends") is a 1942 American live-action/animated anthology film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It is the sixth Disney animated feature film and the first of the six pack ...

'', 1942 *''

Fall Out Fall In ''Fall Out Fall In'' is a Walt Disney cartoon starring Donald Duck. It was released on April 23, 1943, by RKO Radio Pictures. The film's title incorporates two military commands: "fall in," meaning to create an organized formation of soldiers, ...

'', 1943 *''

Victory Through Air Power ''Victory Through Air Power'' is a 1942 non-fiction book by Alexander P. de Seversky. It was made into a 1943 Walt Disney animated feature film of the same name. Theories De Seversky began his military life at a young age. After serving in ...

'', 1943 *''

The Old Army Game ''The Old Army Game'' is a 1943 World War II cartoon starring Donald Duck that was produced by Walt Disney and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. Plot Pete is inspecting a camp and goes through the cabins to see all of the soldiers sleeping. He ...

'', 1943 *'' Donald's Off Day'', 1944 *'' Tiger Trouble'', 1945 *''

The Three Caballeros ''The Three Caballeros'' is a 1944 American live-action/animated musical anthology film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film premiered in Mexico City on December 21, 1944. It was released in the United States on ...

'', 1945 *'' The Eyes Have It'', 1945 *'' Californy'er Bust'', 1945 *'' Hockey Homicide'', 1945 *'' The Lady Said No'', 1946 *''

Song of the South ''Song of the South'' is a 1946 American live-action/animated musical drama film directed by Harve Foster and Wilfred Jackson; produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It is based on the Uncle Remus stories as adapted b ...

'', 1946 (cartoon segments) *''

Fun and Fancy Free ''Fun and Fancy Free'' is a 1947 American animated musical fantasy package film produced by Walt Disney and released on September 27, 1947 by RKO Radio Pictures. It is the ninth Disney animated feature film and the fourth of the package films th ...

'', 1947 *'' Mail Dog'', 1947 *''

Melody Time ''Melody Time'' is a 1948 American live-action/animated musical film produced by Walt Disney. The tenth Disney animated feature film, it was released to theatres by RKO Radio Pictures on May 27, 1948. Made up of seven segments set to popular mu ...

'', 1948 (''Pecos Bill'' and ''Johnny Appleseed'') *''

So Dear to My Heart ''So Dear to My Heart'' is a 1948 American live-action/animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Its world premiere was in Chicago, Illinois, on November 29, 1948. Like 1946's ''Song of the South'', the film comb ...

'', 1949 *''

Toy Tinkers ''Toy Tinkers'' is a 1949 American animated short film produced in Technicolor by Walt Disney Productions and released to theaters on December 16, 1949 by RKO Radio Pictures. Set during Christmas time, the film shows Chip 'n' Dale trying to steal ...

'', 1949 *''

Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...

'', 1950 *'' Trailer Horn'', 1950 *'' Puss Cafe'', 1950 *''

Motor Mania ''Motor Mania'' is a cartoon released by Walt Disney Productions on June 30, 1950. In this madcap motoring animation, Goofy (during his "Everyman" period) transforms into a Mr. Hyde-type split personality, when he gets behind the wheel and pr ...

'', 1950 *''

Pests of the West This is a list of animated short films produced by Walt Disney and Walt Disney Animation Studios from 1921 to the present. This includes films produced at the Laugh-O-Gram Studio which Disney founded in 1921 as well as the animation studio now ...

'', 1950 *''Food For Feudin'', 1950 *''

Hook, Lion and Sinker ''Hook, Lion and Sinker'' is a Disney short cartoon featuring Donald Duck, who appears as a fisherman, and Louie the Mountain Lion. This is the second episode to feature Louie and the only episode where he is shown to have a son. The film's plo ...

'', 1950 *''

Camp Dog This is a list of animated short films produced by Walt Disney and Walt Disney Animation Studios from 1921 to the present. This includes films produced at the Laugh-O-Gram Studio which Disney founded in 1921 as well as the animation studio now ...

'', 1950 *''

Hold That Pose ''Hold That Pose'' is a 1950 American animated cartoon produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film's plot centers on Goofy trying to get a job as a wildlife photographer but ending up causing trouble in a g ...

'', 1950 *''

Lion Down ''Lion Down'' is a 1951 Goofy cartoon featuring Goofy and Louie the Mountain Lion. The film's plot centers on Goofy and Louie competing for a comfortable place to rest. The film is Louie's third appearance. Plot Goofy is trying to enjoy some pe ...

'', 1951 *''

Dude Duck ''Dude Duck'' is a 1951 American animated short film featuring Donald Duck; it was directed by Jack Hannah and produced by Walt Disney. In the short film, Donald goes on vacation to a dude ranch and gets a totally uncooperative horse as a mount ...

'', 1951 *'' Test Pilot Donald'', 1951 *''

Lucky Number In number theory, a lucky number is a natural number in a set which is generated by a certain "sieve". This sieve is similar to the Sieve of Eratosthenes that generates the primes, but it eliminates numbers based on their position in the rema ...

'', 1951 *''R'Coon Dawg'', 1951 *''Get Rich Quick'', 1951 *''

Cold Turkey "Cold turkey" refers to the abrupt cessation of a substance dependence and the resulting unpleasant experience, as opposed to gradually easing the process through reduction over time or by using replacement medication. Sudden withdrawal from dru ...

'', 1951 *'' Fathers Are People'', 1951 *'' Out of Scale'', 1951 *'' No Smoking'', 1951 *''

Two-Gun Goofy ''Goofy'' is a series of American Animated cartoon, animated comedy short films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Productions. The series started in 1939 with ''Goofy and Wilbur'' and ended in 1953 with ''How to Sleep (1953 f ...

'', 1952 *''

Susie the Little Blue Coupe ''Susie the Little Blue Coupe'' is a 1952 animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and originally released by RKO Radio Pictures on June 6, 1952. The eight-minute film was directed by Clyde Geronimi and based on an original short-s ...

'', 1952 *''

The Little House ''The Little House'' is a 1942 children's picture book written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1943. Inspiration Author Virginia Le ...

'', 1952 *'' Father's Day Off'', 1953 *'' The Simple Things'', 1953The Cartoon Music-Google Books (pg. 35)
/ref> *''The Jounery Mistery Of Boob'', 1963

Live-action theatrical film scores

*''

Glamour Girl Glamour photography is a genre of photography in which the subjects are portrayed in erotic poses ranging from fully clothed to nude. The term may be a euphemism for erotic photography. For glamour models, body shape and size are directly relate ...

'', 1948 *''The Strange Mrs. Crane'', 1948 *''

Love Happy ''Love Happy'' is a 1949 American musical comedy film, released by United Artists, directed by David Miller and starring the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx and Chico Marx) in their 13th and final feature film, as well as a memorable wa ...

'', 1949 (conductor) *''

In Beaver Valley ''In Beaver Valley'' is a 1950 American short documentary film directed by James Algar. The film was produced by Walt Disney as part of the '' True-Life Adventures'' series of nature documentaries. It won an Oscar in 1951 for Best Short Subjec ...

'', 1950 includes "Jing-a-Ling", lyrics added by

Don Raye Don Raye (born Donald MacRae Wilhoite Jr., March 16, 1909 – January 29, 1985) was an American songwriter, best known for his songs for The Andrews Sisters such as "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", " The House of Blue Lights", "Just for a Th ...

*''Pecos River'', 1951 *'' About Face'', 1952 *''

Water Birds A water bird, alternatively waterbird or aquatic bird, is a bird that lives on or around water. In some definitions, the term ''water bird'' is especially applied to birds in freshwater ecosystems, although others make no distinction from seabi ...

'', 1952 *''

The Living Desert ''The Living Desert'' is a 1953 American nature documentary film that shows the everyday lives of the animals of the desert of the Southwestern United States. The film was written by James Algar, Winston Hibler, Jack Moffitt (uncredited) and T ...

'', 1953 *''

The Vanishing Prairie ''The Vanishing Prairie'' is a 1954 American documentary film directed by James Algar and released by Walt Disney Productions. The theme music was given a set of lyrics by Hazel "Gil" George. It was rechristened as "Pioneer's Prayer" in ''Wes ...

'', 1954 *''

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas'' (french: Vingt mille lieues sous les mers) is a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne. The novel was originally serialized from March 1869 through June 1870 in Pierre-J ...

'', 1954 *''

The Great Locomotive Chase ''The Great Locomotive Chase'' is a 1956 American adventure western film produced by Walt Disney Productions, based on the Great Locomotive Chase that occurred in 1862 during the American Civil War. Filmed in CinemaScope and in color, the fi ...

'', 1956 *''

Secrets of Life ''Secrets of Life'' is a 1956 American documentary film written and directed by James Algar. The documentary follows the changing world of nature, the sky, the sea, the sun, planets, insects and volcanic action. The documentary was released on No ...

'', 1956 *''

Westward Ho, the Wagons! ''Westward Ho the Wagons!'' is a 1956 American Western film starring Fess Parker and Kathleen Crowley and produced by Walt Disney Productions. Based on Mary Jane Carr's novel ''Children of the Covered Wagon'', the film was produced by Bill Wal ...

'', 1956 *''

Perri Perri may refer to: * ''Perri'' (novel) or ''The Youth of a Squirrel'', a 1938 novel by Felix Salten * ''Perri'' (film), a 1957 Disney film *Perri (name), a surname and given name * Perri (surname) See also * Peri (disambiguation) * Perry (disambi ...

'', 1957 *'' The Light in the Forest'', 1958 *'' The Shaggy Dog'', 1959 *'' Pollyanna'', 1960 *''

Swiss Family Robinson ''The Swiss Family Robinson'' (German: ''Der Schweizerische Robinson'') is a novel by Johann David Wyss, first published in 1812, about a Swiss family of immigrants whose ship en route to Port Jackson, Australia, goes off course and is shipwr ...

'', 1960 *'' The Parent Trap'', 1961 *''

Moon Pilot ''Moon Pilot'' is a 1962 American Technicolor science fiction comedy film from Walt Disney Productions, released through Buena Vista Distribution, directed by James Neilson, and starring Tom Tryon, Brian Keith, Edmond O'Brien, Dany Saval, and ...

'', 1962 *'' Bon Voyage!'', 1962 *''

In Search of the Castaways ''In Search of the Castaways'' (french: Les Enfants du capitaine Grant, lit=The Children of Captain Grant) is a novel by the French writer Jules Verne, published in 1867–68. The original edition, published by Hetzel, contains a number of ill ...

'', 1962 *''

Miracle of the White Stallions ''Miracle of the White Stallions'' is a 1963 American adventure war film released by Walt Disney starring Robert Taylor (playing Alois Podhajsky), Lilli Palmer, and Eddie Albert. It is the story of the evacuation of the Lipizzaner horses ...

'', 1963 *''Yellowstone Cubs'', 1963 *'' The Three Lives of Thomasina'', 1963

References

Film Composers in America, A. Filmography 1911- 1970 by Clifford McCarthy

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Paul 1906 births 1985 deaths American film score composers American male film score composers Animated film score composers Best Original Music Score Academy Award winners College of Idaho alumni Walt Disney Animation Studios people People from Calumet, Michigan Deaths from Alzheimer's disease Deaths from dementia in California Musicians from Michigan 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians