David Buttolph

James David Buttolph Jr. (August 3, 1902 – January 1, 1983) was an American film composer who scored over 300 movies in his career. Born in New York City, Buttolph showed musical talent at an early age, and eventually studied music formally. After earning a music degree, Buttolph moved to Europe in 1923 and studied in Austria and Germany supporting himself as a nightclub pianist. He returned to the U.S. in 1927 and, a few years later, began working for NBC radio network as an arranger and conductor. In 1933, Buttolph moved to Los Angeles and began working in films. Buttolph's best work, according to many, was his work as an arranger on the Alfred Newman score for The Mark of Zorro (1940).

In the mid-1950s, Buttolph started to compose scores for television, the most memorable being the theme for the TV western Maverick starring James Garner with the same music appearing in his score of The Lone Ranger (1956). He continued to compose music for television, many of which were westerns, until his retirement in 1963.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 3, 1902 (New York City), Died January 1, 1983 (Poway)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, arranger, session supervisor

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-40556 10-in. 11/8/1927 I told them all about you National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-40557 10-in. 11/8/1927 Dear, on a night like this National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-43332 10-in. 3/7/1928 Pale moon National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-43333 10-in. 3/7/1928 Thou swell National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-43386 10-in. 3/21/1928 Down by the old mill stream National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-45538 10-in. 5/29/1928 Bluebird, sing me a song National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-45583 10-in. 6/13/1928 Beautiful National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-45871 10-in. 7/11/1928 Do I hear you saying National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-48192 10-in. 11/21/1928 The song I love National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-48193 10-in. 11/21/1928 My blackbirds are bluebirds now National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CVE-49077 12-in. 1/18/1929 Minstrel show of 1929 Victor Minstrels Minstrels, with orchestra arranger, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CVE-49096 12-in. 1/28/1929 Minstrel show of 1929 Victor Minstrels Minstrels, with orchestra instrumentalist, piano, arranger  
Victor BVE-50722 10-in. 3/6/1929 A perfect day David Buttolph ; National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-50723 10-in. 3/6/1929 The slumber boat David Buttolph ; Murray Kellner ; National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with violin and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-56785 10-in. 10/16/1929 Dear old girl National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-56786 10-in. 10/16/1929 On the banks of the Wabash far away National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-57534 10-in. 11/8/1929 Dear old girl National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with orchestra session supervisor  
Victor BVE-57535 10-in. 11/8/1929 On the banks of the Wabash far away National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with orchestra session supervisor  
Victor BVE-58568 10-in. 2/11/1930 My isle of golden dreams David Buttolph ; National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-58569 10-in. 2/11/1930 Lonesome—that's all David Buttolph ; National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Buttolph, David," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105223.

Buttolph, David. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105223.

"Buttolph, David." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105223

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