Ralph Hermann

Hermann was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from South Division High School. While in high school, he was awarded the Milwaukee Civic Music Medal for his outstanding musical commitment. He studied at the Juilliard School of Music under Vittorio Giannini. His career began at his high school, where he composed, among other music, Kiddie Revue and played in several local bands, eventually playing under national band leaders including Freddy Martin and Jimmy Dorsey. In 1940 he started working for WTMJ as an arranger; when he left for World War II military service in 1943, he had a Sunday morning show of his own. During his military service he worked in interrogation and organized an orchestra of German prisoners that played to American troops and displaced persons in France; he later organized a symphony orchestra in Wiesbaden. On his return to the US, Paul Whiteman hired him and recommended him to NBC in 1945. In 1952 he moved to ABC, where Hermann worked as head of the music department until his retirement in 1971. Beginning in 1954 he also wrote works for symphonic band, and works for soloists such as Al Gallodoro (saxophone and clarinet) and Eugene Rousseau (saxophone). His adaptations of well-known classical works for concert band are still programmed regularly, such as Porgy and Bess Medley for saxophone and band, Ellington Fantasy Rossini's Introduction, Theme, and Variations and Tosca Fantasy for saxophone and band. He won an Emmy Award in 1963 for his Symphony No. 3—From the Scriptures. Ralph Hermann was married and had three children. He died at home in Manhasset, New York, after an illness following a stroke.