Elmer Bernstein

If Elmer Bernstein had realized his childhood hopes, he might have been a successful concert pianist from the 1940s through the '60s. Instead, thanks to his ability as a composer (manifested at an early age), and the timely intervention of World War II, he was a major force in popular and film music for more than four decades, and a major influence on American popular culture. Born in New York City, Bernstein as a boy showed a consuming interest in music, especially on the piano. He was a natural prodigy and early on, his teacher recognized a tendency on his part to improvis...