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Phil Ohman

p, 1896-1954 US, New Britain, Connecticut
Musician / Composer of Pop and Jazz
A.k.a. Fillmore Wellington Ohman

American composer and pianist. b. October 7, 1896 (New Britain, CT, USA) d. August 8, 1954 (Santa Monica, CA, USA) Piano wizard Phil Ohman was among the most popular entertainers of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Together with partner Victor Arden, he recorded hundreds of songs and piano rolls featuring the duo's ''pyrotechnical'' keyboard style. The pair was also featured on numerous radio programs and led pit orchestras for several George Gershwin musicals. Ohman received his musical training while in high school. Impressed by his talent, his music teacher advised his parents to send him to Europe to study, but his family couldn't afford it. Instead he studied two years with a local pipe organist. His first job, which he started in 1915, was as a piano salesman at Wannamaker's in New York City. In 1919 he found employment at the QRS Piano Roll company, where he met his future partner, Victor Arden. During the early 1920s Ohman began working as an arranger and composer for both classical and popular singers. In 1922 he was hired as the pianist for Paul Whiteman's orchestra. He remained with Whiteman for only a year, after which he decided to form a team with his friend, Arden. The two made a name for themselves in vaudeville and playing small clubs on 52nd Street. In 1924 they were hired to conduct the pit orchestra for the Gershwin musical Lady Be Good, the first of many shows in which they were involved. Among the other musicals they worked on were Funny Face, Oh Kay, Tip Toes and Spring Is Here. They eventually formed a full big band, which featured various vocalists, including Frank Luther. The duo also appeared in Vitaphone short subjects and worked on several radio programs, the American Album of Familiar Music, The Buick Program and the Bayer Music Review. Arden and Ohman split in 1934, though a brief reunion produced several recordings for the Brunswick label. After the break-up Ohman was asked to put together an orchestra for the Trocadero night club in Hollywood. While in Hollywood he began working in motion pictures -- scoring films, writing songs, and working with actors who had to simulate piano playing onscreen. Ohman's best known song is ''Lost,'' with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. He remained active in film and radio into the 1950s.

     
Genres
  • Pop
  • Jazz
  • Soundtrack
  • Classical
Popular Tracks   
Manhattan on The Big Broadcast, Volume 8: Jazz and Popular Music of the 1920s and 1930s by Various Artists
Dancing the Devil Away (From "The Cuckoos") on Lucky Day by Victor Arden & Phil Ohman
'S Wonderful (From "Funny Face") - 1927 - Remastered 1998 on Fascinating Rhythm - The Broadway Gershwin 1919-1933 by George Gershwin & Various Artists
Who Cares (From "Of Thee I Sing") - 1931 - Remastered 1998 on Fascinating Rhythm - The Broadway Gershwin 1919-1933 by George Gershwin & Various Artists
The Cop on the Beat, the Man in the Moon and Me on Lucky Day by Victor Arden & Phil Ohman
Maple Leaf Rag on Lucky Day by Victor Arden & Phil Ohman
Lucky Day on Yes! We Have No Bananas by Various Artists
Fashionette on Lucky Day by Victor Arden & Phil Ohman
I Know That You Know on Lucky Day by Victor Arden & Phil Ohman
Beautiful Love on The Big Broadcast, Vol. 9 by Various Artists

Track list and 30sec audio provided by


Band Members
Discography



Title Artist Year Type
George And Ira Gershwin's Oh, Kay!Gertrude Lawrence, Phil Ohman, Victor Arden, George & Ira Gershwin1978Compil.
Lady, Be Good!Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire, Cliff Edwards, Victor Arden, Phil Ohman, George & Ira Gershwin1977Compil.
Love In Bloom / I Only Have Eyes For YouPhil Ohman And Victor Arden1934Album
Canadian Capers / Maple Leaf RagVictor Arden - Phil Ohman1931Album
Sweet Nothings / FashionetteShilkret's Rhyth-Melodists / Victor Arden And Phil Ohman1929Album
Nola / The Glow-WormPhil Ohman And Victor Arden1928Album
I Know That You Know / One AlonePhil Ohman And Victor Arden1927Album
Manhattan / Sentimental MePhil Ohman And Victor Arden With Regent Club Orchestra1926Album
Looking For A Boy / That Certain FeelingPhil Ohman And Victor Arden1926Album
Familiar Italian Folk Songs / Old Familiar MelodiesPhil Ohman And Victor Arden1925Album
Operatic Favorites / Waltzes Of The PastPhil Ohman And Victor Arden1925Album
No, No, Nora / Nashville NightingalePhil Ohman And Victor Arden1924Album
Put Away A Little Ray Of Golden Sunshine / You Know Me, AlabamPhil Ohman And Victor Arden1924Album
Salut À Pesth / Dance Of The DemonVictor Arden - Phil Ohman1923Album
Don't Say Good-Bye / I Gave You Up Just Before You Threw Me DownPhil Ohman And Harry Reser1922Album
Say, Persianna, Say / I've Got The Wonder Where He Went And When He's Coming Back BluesVictor Arden - Phil Ohman1922Album
Saturday / Oh Joy!Victor Arden - Phil Ohman1921Album
Narcissus / The Last HopePhil Ohman / Ferdinand HimmelreichAlbum
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Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
Other Search Results
Phil Ohman And His Orchestra Pop and Jazz
Phil Ohman's Dance Orchestra Pop and Classical
Universal Link: https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Phil%20Ohman
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