Joseph J. Lilley - جوزف جی. لیلی

Biography

Joseph J. Lilley(August 16, 1913 – January 1, 1971) was an American composer, songwriter and orchestrator. He was Music Director at Paramount Studios from 1941 and was involved in many of the studio's successful musicals in roles varying from vocal arranger to musical director. He worked closely with stars such as Bing Crosby, Martin and Lewis and Elvis Presley. Lilley was nominated at the 32nd Academy Awards for Li'l Abner in Best Musical Score. Lilley was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on August 16, 1913. Lilley won a scholarship to attend La Salle Academy (Rhode Island) but he dropped out age 14 following the death of his father. He obtained work at a textile mill in order to support his mother. Lilley also obtained employment as a pianist with a local orchestra and in 1929, at the age of 16, he played piano for an orchestra aboard a Boston-to-New York boat. Still a teenager, Lilley was accepted at both the New England Conservatory of Music, and at Juilliard School of Music where he graduated in 1933.