Rainger

He opened with the great Leo Robin-Ralph Rainger "Easy Living," which served as a tip-off to how easy he's about to be with the ensuing selections.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Kurt Elling Fools Around With Time at Birdland David Finkle 2011

He opened with the great Leo Robin-Ralph Rainger "Easy Living," which served as a tip-off to how easy he's about to be with the ensuing selections.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Kurt Elling Fools Around With Time at Birdland David Finkle 2011

He opened with the great Leo Robin-Ralph Rainger "Easy Living," which served as a tip-off to how easy he's about to be with the ensuing selections.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Kurt Elling Fools Around With Time at Birdland David Finkle 2011

He opened with the great Leo Robin-Ralph Rainger "Easy Living," which served as a tip-off to how easy he's about to be with the ensuing selections.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Kurt Elling Fools Around With Time at Birdland David Finkle 2011

Paramount Pictures soon tapped Rainger as a staff composer and paired him with Robin.

Another Who's Been Unjustly Forgotten Doug Ramsey 2008

Its crew of three and its nine passengers, including Rainger, were killed.

Another Who's Been Unjustly Forgotten Doug Ramsey 2008

Rainger and Robin turned out dozens of songs for Hollywood movies.

Another Who's Been Unjustly Forgotten Doug Ramsey 2008

That might have been the case with bassist Chuck Berghofer, pianist Jan Lundgren, drummer Joe La Barbera and the incomparable vocalist Sue Raney until producer Dick Bank recruited them to record the CD "The Film Music of Ralph Rainger" (Fresh Sound).

Another Who's Been Unjustly Forgotten Doug Ramsey 2008

On Oct. 23, 1942, Rainger boarded an American Airlines DC-3 at the Burbank airport.

Another Who's Been Unjustly Forgotten Doug Ramsey 2008

Histories of American popular music have given Rainger short shrift.

Another Who's Been Unjustly Forgotten Doug Ramsey 2008