Gene Forrell

Who was Gene Forrell?

Gene Forrell was an American composer and conductor.

Forrell was born Eugene Finkelhor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, where he attended Allderdice High School and Duquesne University. He left Duquesne for New York City and a scholarship from the Dalcroze School.

As a composer and orchestral conductor he worked in theater, dance, and television. He wrote the soundtrack to N.Y., N.Y. — A Day in New York, 1957, filmed by Francis Thompson. According to IMDB.com, "The soundtrack is light, breezy, and staccato." His other soundtrack credits include To Be Alive, a 1964 Academy Award-winning documentary. He served as a musical director in Europe and America. In England he conducted the Alexandra Choral Society, the Enfield Grand Opera, the English Sinfonia, and the English National Orchestra. He also wrote commercial jingles. For several years he conducted and recorded the popular Firestone Christmas albums. Forrell was also a longtime board member of the Musicians Foundation.

Forrell died September 21, 2005, at his home in New York.