Peter Matz

From Grokipedia

Peter Matz (November 6, 1928 – August 9, 2002) was an American composer, arranger, conductor, and musical director renowned for his contributions to Broadway theater, film scores, and television specials over a 50-year career. Best known for his close collaborations with performers such as Barbra Streisand and Carol Burnett, Matz arranged and conducted Streisand's first five albums, including the Grammy-winning People (1964), and served as musical director for Emmy-winning specials like My Name Is Barbra (1965) and The Carol Burnett Show (1971–1978). His work also extended to Broadway productions like No Strings (1962) and Grand Hotel (1989), as well as films such as Funny Lady (1975), for which he received an Academy Award nomination.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Louis N. Matz and Alice Krieger Matz, he initially pursued a degree in chemical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), while playing woodwinds in dance bands during his college years. After graduating, Matz studied music in Paris for two years before launching his professional career in the 1950s as an arranger and conductor for theater and variety shows. Early Broadway credits included House of Flowers (1954) and Sail Away (1961–1962), where he honed his skills in orchestration and musical direction.

Matz's television work was prolific, encompassing over 140 movies and specials, where he collaborated with icons including Burt Bacharach, Lena Horne, Noel Coward, Peggy Lee, Bing Crosby, Liza Minnelli, and Tony Bennett. He earned three Primetime Emmy Awards—for My Name Is Barbra (1965), a Burt Bacharach special (1970), and The Carol Burnett Show (1973)—along with more than 10 additional nominations, a Grammy for People, a Clio Award for a 1965 Lena Horne commercial, and two Tony Award nominations, including one for No Strings (1962). In film, beyond Funny Lady, he composed scores for Torch Song Trilogy (1988) and The Gum Shoe Kid.

In his later years, Matz was married to singer Marilynn Lovell from 1987 until his death, following a previous marriage to Janet Perry (1960–1978) with whom he had two sons, P. Zachary and Jonas C. A Democrat and member of the Jewish faith, he actively raised funds for AIDS care through benefit concerts with his wife. Matz passed away in Los Angeles at age 73, leaving a legacy as one of the foremost musical talents in American entertainment.

In brief

Peter Matz (November 6, 1928 – August 9, 2002) was an American musician, composer, arranger, and conductor. His musical career in film, theater, television, and studio recording spanned fifty years. He worked with a number of prominent artists, including Marlene Dietrich, Noël Coward and Barbra Streisand.

Matz won three Emmys and a Grammy Award. He is best known for his work on Streisand's early albums and for his tour as the orchestral conductor and musical director for The Carol Burnett Show.