Jack Elliott, arranger, composer and conductor for scores of hit television shows and movies, died Saturday at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. He was 74 and the cause of death was a brain tumor.
The tumor was diagnosed three weeks ago as Mr. Elliot was working as musical director of the Henry Mancini Institute, which brings gifted young musicians from all over the world to Los Angeles for a summer training program, his son said.
Born Irwin Elliott Zucker in Hartford, Conn., Mr. Elliott graduated from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford.
After completing his education, Mr. Elliott moved to New York, finding work as a jazz pianist at rooms such as the Stork Club. He also lived in Paris in the 1950s where he worked as an orchestrator and developed friendships with other American expatriate musicians, including Quincy Jones.
Returning to New York, Mr. Elliott became a dance arranger and orchestrator for Broadway musicals, including “Fiorello” and “Tenderloin.”
In the early 1960s, he was lured to Los Angeles to work as a musical arranger on Judy Garland’s television show.
For Mr. Elliott, work created more opportunities and he fashioned a career as one of the top composers and arrangers in Hollywood.
Through the 1970s, if a show was popular on TV, it most likely had the music of Mr. Elliott and his frequent collaborator Allyn Ferguson. These shows included “Police Story,” “Barney Miller,” “Starsky and Hutch,” “Charlie’s Angels” and “The Love Boat.”
Mr. Elliott also worked in films, often with director Carl Reiner, on projects including “The Comic,” “Where’s Poppa?” “The Jerk” and “Oh God.”
He also became the musical director of choice for big event telecasts, working on several Academy Award shows, Emmy Award shows and the Kennedy Center Honors.
