Russ Garcia & His Orchestra

Biography

Russell Garcia (born April 12, 1916) is an American motion picture composer who was born in Oakland, California. Self-taught, his break came when he substituted for an ill colleague on a radio show. Subsequently, he went on to become composer/arranger at NBC Studios (for such shows as Rawhide and Laredo), MGM and Universal Studios. He collaborated with Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald on many of their albums (doing arrangements and conducting their orchestras as needed.)