Ferde Grofé - Inglewood, CA - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Ferde Grofé’s father sang professionally as a baritone and his mother was a professional cellist. With such a pedigree, a musical career was all but inevitable. Young Ferde began playing piano in night clubs and dance halls while still in his teens. Being versed in several musical instruments, Ferde Grofé also performed in brass bands and was a violist for the LA Symphony.

During the Roaring Twenties, Grofé played piano with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and did most of the band’s arrangements. In 1928 he created the arrangement for George Gershwin’s hastily composed ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ Today, the most often played version of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ is Grofé’s 1942 arrangement for full orchestra.

The success of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ led Ferde Grofé to expand his composition output. Many of his orchestral suites are meant to represent certain areas of America such as the ‘Mississippi Suite,’ ‘Grand Canyon Suite,’ ‘Death Valley Suite,’ ‘Niagara Falls Suite’ and ‘Hudson River Suite.’ Movement three of his ‘Grand Canyon Suite,’ titled ‘On the Trail,’ is often heard accompanying a horse plodding along in cartoons. In fact, it’s included on the album ‘Cartoon’s Greatest Hits.’

Ferde Grofé has appeared on numerous recordings in a variety of capacities. These include performer, arranger, composer and conductor. He also scored several ballets and Hollywood movies as well as composed the official theme music for both the 1939 and 1964-65 New York World’s Fairs.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Description: Ferde Grofé’s crypt is located in the Mausoleum of the Golden West, Sanctuary of Faith, Crypt E-324 at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. Date of birth: 03/27/1892 Date of death: 04/03/1972 Area of notoriety: Entertainment Marker Type: Tomb (above ground) Setting: Indoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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