May 21 Luncheon: Ian Freebairn-Smith

 

Ian Freebairn-Smith has been a singer, composer and arranger in records, films, and television for 53 years, with a GRAMMY AWARD for best arrangement accompanying a vocalist:  Barbara Streisand’s  “EVERGREEN.”

Ian has arranged and conducted for BARBRA STREISAND, LIZA MINELLI, LOU RAWLS,   ANTHONY NEWLY,  KRIS KRITOFFERSON,   STEPHEN BISHOP,   THE HI-LO’S,   THE FOUR FRESHMEN,   THE DOC SEVERINSEN ORCHESTRA, and many others.

His film composing and orchestrating credits include:  M*A*S*H,  A STAR IS BORN, THE MUPPET MOVIE, THE END,  THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT.  Television series scores include:  MAGNUM, P.I.,  FAME,  CAGNEY AND LACY,  and AIRWOLF. He also arranged the orchestra and voices and sang in the vocal group on the theme for “GILLIGAN’S ISLAND.” Ian has composed music for dozens of TV and radio commercials, including most of the major beers, airlines, and oil companies — most notably CHEVRON, UNITED AIRLINES,  HONDA, and BUDWEISER.

In the world of concert music, his quartet for four cellos, “Toward the Light,” was recently performed in Los Angeles, and he conducted his suite for string orchestra, “The River Dialogs,” at the Music Center. “LA Marathon,” commissioned for the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, was premiered at Royce Hall in August of 1999. 
 
Ian is a three-time LA Chapter governor of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He was appointed Artistic Director of the Hollywood Bowl Weekend Concerts in 1999.  For the past five years Ian has been the morning classical music host on KCSN-FM. Keeping it in the family, his wife, Shari Zippert, and daughter, Vanessa, violin and cello respectively, are both studio musicians in Los Angeles. His daughter, Jennifer Freebairn-Smith is a singer/songwriter, as is daughter, Alison Freebairn-Smith, who has also worked as a music supervisor.

 

Catalina Bar & Grill
6725 West Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028
(1 BLOCK E OF HIGHLAND – north side of street – cor of McCadden)
Cost: ASMAC Members & Students $30 • Guests and all walk-ins $35
Parking: Valet $3.00 • Enter on McCadden - west side of Catalina’s – lot at back

Please make reservations by using our online RSVP form 

or call (818) 994-4661