Composer Sid Ramin dies aged 100 – musical tributes pour in
3 July 2019, 13:32 | Updated: 4 July 2019, 15:08
The Oscar-winning composer and adapter of on–screen musical West Side Story died of natural causes at his New York home on Monday.
Legendary American composer, orchestrator and arranger Sid Ramin has died, aged 100, of natural causes at his home in New York.
He passed away on Monday 1 July after turning 100 earlier this year — and tributes have been pouring in.
Born on 22 January 1919, Ramin was best known for winning an Academy Award in 1961 for co-orchestrating the music to Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story.
The composer had teamed up with Bernstein and Irwin Kostal to re-work the music to the popular Broadway production for the big screen, also taking home a Grammy for the spectacular soundtrack album.
Fans in the musical world have taken to Twitter to share their condolences:
We are deeply saddened by the passing (at the age of 100) of our beloved Sid Ramin, composer, arranger and orchestrator. He was a life-long friend of Leonard Bernstein and worked on the score for both the Broadway and film versions of West Side Story. pic.twitter.com/w3wZHrRwTj
— Leonard Bernstein (@LennyBernstein) July 2, 2019
SID Ramin has passed away at 100. He was at my side for out West Side Story Dances. Also the State Fair Overture and the Irving Berlin Patriotic Overture. He was a great man.
— John Mauceri (@maucerij1) July 2, 2019
West Side Story and Candide, a million other things including the expansion of the WSS material into Symphonic Dances. An absolutely brilliant and peerless orchestrator!!! R.I.P. Sid Ramin!!!! https://t.co/U7efBdbeWM
— Rob Mathes (@robmathesmusic) July 2, 2019
Alongside his orchestration for West Side Story, Ramin’s work also included 'Smile, You're On Candid Camera' for US TV show Candid Camera and a musical collaboration with arranger Robert Ginzler on the 1959 musical, Gypsy.
He also penned the hit ‘Music to Watch Girls By’, which was released as an instrumental single in 1967.
Ramin married Gloria Breit, in January 1949, and they had a son, Ronald, who has followed in his father’s footsteps and now works as a composer for TV and film.
His other accolades include a Daytime Emmy Award for his work on the drama series, All My Children.
