David Rose was a well-known American songwriter, composer, arranger, and orchestra leader. He is perhaps best known for his compositions for “The Stripper,” “Holiday for Strings,” and “Calypso Music.” “Calypso Music,” which he composed, became an instant hit and earned him a gold disc. He began his career as a member of a dance band. Later in his career, he worked for NBC radio as a pianist, arranger, and conductor. During World War II, he served as a composer and conductor for the United States Army, where he received recognition for his work on the musical ‘Winged Victory.’ His encounter with Red Skeleton marked a watershed moment in his career. Skeleton’s radio show contributed to the widespread popularity of his song “Holiday for Strings.” Among his numerous contributions to the music industry is the composition of theme music for over twenty television series. He was the music composer for the classic television series ‘Bonanza’ for 14 years, winning several Emmy awards. He released over 50 albums, with the title “The Stripper” standing out for his mastery of jazz music style. Rose’s work was featured in a number of films, including ‘Slap Shot’ and ‘The Full Monty’. Television shows such as ‘Little Britain’ and ‘Scrubs’ successfully incorporated this musical composition.
Childhood & Adolescence
David Rose was born in London to Jewish parents and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He received his education at the Chicago College of Music. He earned his diploma at the age of sixteen.
Career of David
After completing his education, he began performing as a member of a dance band led by Ted Fio Rito. He was a three-year member of this band. He then worked as a substitute pianist for NBC radio.
Apart from being a standby pianist, he also worked for this radio company as an arranger and conductor. He composed songs such as “Break It Down,” “Transcontinental,” and “Plantation Moods” during this time period.
In 1936, he worked on Benny Goodman’s popular song “It’s Been So Long” as an arranger. He relocated to Hollywood in 1938 after leaving New York. He assembled the David Rose Orchestra for the Mutual Broadcast System shortly after arriving in Hollywood.
He also served as conductor for a program called California Melodies during this time period. In 1941, he composed music for several MGM Studios films.
It was during this time period that he composed “Holiday for Strings,” which is widely regarded as one of his most significant works. In 1943, the song was a smash hit.
He served as a composer and conductor for the United States Army during World War II. He co-wrote the song “So in Love” with lyricist Leo Robin for the film ‘Wonder Man’. The song was nominated for an Academy Award.
He met Red Skeleton during his Army service. Red asked him to conduct his Raleigh Cigarettes Program as a conductor. After the war, he was a regular performer on Red Skelton’s radio show beginning in 1948.
During the 1970s, he composed music for the television series Little House on the Prairie, which was also a success. He remained active at the time, conducting a number of symphony concerts and recording albums. He did so until the 1980s.
Significant Works of David
In 1958, he recorded his musical composition “The Stripper.” The song was released four years later. The song’s composition reflects a jazz influence and will be remembered for its use of trombone lines.
Personal History and Legacies
On October 8, 1938, he married actress Martha Raye. Following his divorce from Martha on May 19, 1941, he married Judy Garland on July 28, 1941.
Judy was a singer and actress. Judy had an abortion during her marriage to Rose, according to biographer Gerald Clarke. In 1944, they divorced.
Following that, he married Betty Bartholomew and had two daughters with her. Samantha James, his granddaughter, is a well-known singer and songwriter. He died in Burbank, California, at the age of 80.
Estimated Net Worth
David S. Rose is one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs and is listed on the Forbes list of the most popular entrepreneurs.
David S. Rose’s net worth is estimated to be around $19 million, based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.
Trivia
A popular advertisement for shaving cream featured this music maestro’s composition “The Stripper.” This advertisement featured close-up shots of men shaving their faces with safety razors, and the razor strokes matched the emphatic section of this tune.