Fred Karlin

Fred Karlin (June 16, 1936 - March 26, 2004) was an Oscar-winning American composer of more than one hundred scores for feature films and television movies. He also was an accomplished trumpeter adept at playing jazz, blues, classical, rock, and medieval music. Born Frederick James Karlin in Chicago, Illinois, he studied jazz composition with William Russo and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College, where he wrote his String Quarte... more

Fred Karlin (June 16, 1936 - March 26, 2004) was an Oscar-winning American composer of more than one hundred scores for feature films and television movies. He also was an accomplished trumpeter adept at playing jazz, blues, classical, rock, and medieval music. Born Frederick James Karlin in Chicago, Illinois, he studied jazz composition with William Russo and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College, where he wrote his String Quartet No. 2 as his honors thesis. Following graduation, he moved to New York City, composing and arranging for various bands, including those of Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Chubby Jackson. During this period he also composed and arranged for documentaries, the Radio City Music Hall orchestra, and television commercials. Karlin began his film career with Up the Down Staircase in 1967. Following in quick succession were Yours, Mine and Ours, The Sterile Cuckoo, and Lovers and Other Strangers. For the latter he wrote the music for the song "For... less