Charles Previn

Charles Previn (January 11, 1888 – September 21, 1973) was an American film composer who was active at Universal in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. Before being based in Hollywood, Previn arranged music for over 100 Broadway productions.

Previn was born in Brooklyn to Henrietta Giballe and the rabbi Morris Previn, who a year earlier had immigrated from Graudenz via Glasgow to the United States. He graduated from Brooklyn High School and obtained a bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1910. He obtained a master's degree from New York College of Music.

From 1936 to 1944, Previn was musical director at Universal, overseeing everything from horror pictures to Arabian Nights fantasies. He was a cousin of the father of German-born composer, pianist, and conductor André Previn and TV and film director Steve Previn (brothers). He died in Los Angeles, aged 85.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 11, 1888 (Brooklyn), Died September 22, 1973 (Hollywood)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1917 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: conductor, composer

= 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 B-19042 10-in. 1/12/1917 My old briar pipe George MacFarlane Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor PBS-049851 10-in. 6/14/1940 Sylvia Allan Jones ; Charles Previn Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  
Victor PBS-049852 10-in. 6/14/1940 The sleigh Allan Jones ; Charles Previn Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  
Victor PBS-049853 10-in. 6/14/1940 Falling in love with love Allan Jones ; Charles Previn Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  
Victor PBS-049854 10-in. 6/14/1940 Who are you? Allan Jones ; Victor Symphony Orchestra Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Previn, Charles," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105720.

Previn, Charles. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105720.

"Previn, Charles." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105720

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