Herschel Burke Gilbert - Archive Interview Part 1 of 5

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Segment of 5-part interview with composer Herschel Burke Gilbert. He talked about becoming an arranger for Harry James during the big band era of the 1940s that led to his move to Los Angeles and Columbia Pictures. He talked about working with composer Heinz Roemheld on such films as The Fuller Brush Man and Dimitri Tiomkin on such films as Duel in the Sun. He also talked about features he scored including Otto Preminger's Carmen Jones. Gilbert talked about his association with the American Society of Music Arrangers and described American Federation of Music president James C. Petrillo, the legendary union head. Gilbert then talked about the Mutell (music for television) music service, which supplied music for television series such as The Adventures of Superman. He spoke in detail about working with the creative team of Jules Levy-Arthur Gardner-Arthur Leven on the series The Rifleman, for whose theme and incidental music he scored. He talked about becoming the executive music director at Dick Powell's Four Star Productions and the outsourcing of the music recording internationally. He talked about working on such series as The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor, The Westerner, and Burke's Law. Finally he talked about his work as the Executive Music Supervisor at CBS in the 1960s, including his contributions to such series as Rawhide.

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[Bandtrip50]

Brilliant man! Made us all so happy with his Themes!

[jslasher1]

Wonderful composer. He also orchestrated Tiomkin's music for 'Duel in the Sun', but was uncredited. 

[vividwatch47]

@imcdownsound, make that Dot Records.

[recordman64]

It would also be nice to have a CD reissue of the Burke's Law soundtrack, which was issued on Liberty.

[vividwatch47]

Also one of the five greatest orchestrators, along with Ottorino Respighi, Hugo Friedhofer, Arthur Morton and Alexander Courage.

[fromthesidelines]

One of the cues Gilbert wrote for "The Jackie Robinson Story" (1950) was later used as the one that appeared under the title (and middle "bumper") of virtually every episode of "ALFRED HITCHOCK PRESENTS" (1955-'62).

[imcdownsound]

Mr. Gilbert's magnificent music for The Rifleman can now be heard in its finest form on Encore. During the peak of its run on ABC, there was a Decca soundtrack LP issued. A CD reissue would be great. Thanks for this.

[Sparky1002]

This is the man who wrote "The Rifleman" theme, and many others.