Ferde Grofé, (1892 – 1972) was an American pianist, arranger and composer.<… Read Full Bio ↴Ferde Grofé, (1892 – 1972) was an American pianist, arranger and composer.
Born Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé on 27th March 1892 in New York City, of French Huguenot extraction, his family had four generations of classical musicians. His father, Emil von Grofé, was a baritone who sang mainly light opera and his mother, Elsa Johanna von Grofé, was a professional cellist. She was also a versatile music teacher who taught Ferde to play the violin and piano. Elsa's father, Bernardt Bierlich, was a cellist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York and Elsa's brother, Julius Bierlich, was first violinist and concertmaster of the Los Angeles Symphony.
Ferde's father died in 1899 and Elsa took Ferde abroad to study piano, viola and composition in Leipzig, Germany. Given such a musical background, it is perhaps understandable that Ferde became proficient over a remarkable range of instruments including piano (his favored instrument), violin, viola (he became a violist in the Los Angeles Symphony), baritone horn, alto horn, and cornet. This command of musical instruments and composition gave Ferde the foundation to later become first an arranger of other composers' music and then an orchestrator of his own compositions.
Grofé left home at the age of fourteen and variously worked as a milkman, truck driver, usher, newsboy, elevator operator, helper in a book bindery, iron factory worker, and as a piano player in a bar for two dollars a night and as an accompanist. He continued studying piano and violin. When he was fifteen he was performing with dance bands. He also played the alto horn in brass bands. He was seventeen when he wrote his first commissioned work
He died on 3rd April 1972.
Born Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé on 27th March 1892 in New York City, of French Huguenot extraction, his family had four generations of classical musicians. His father, Emil von Grofé, was a baritone who sang mainly light opera and his mother, Elsa Johanna von Grofé, was a professional cellist. She was also a versatile music teacher who taught Ferde to play the violin and piano. Elsa's father, Bernardt Bierlich, was a cellist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York and Elsa's brother, Julius Bierlich, was first violinist and concertmaster of the Los Angeles Symphony.
Ferde's father died in 1899 and Elsa took Ferde abroad to study piano, viola and composition in Leipzig, Germany. Given such a musical background, it is perhaps understandable that Ferde became proficient over a remarkable range of instruments including piano (his favored instrument), violin, viola (he became a violist in the Los Angeles Symphony), baritone horn, alto horn, and cornet. This command of musical instruments and composition gave Ferde the foundation to later become first an arranger of other composers' music and then an orchestrator of his own compositions.
Grofé left home at the age of fourteen and variously worked as a milkman, truck driver, usher, newsboy, elevator operator, helper in a book bindery, iron factory worker, and as a piano player in a bar for two dollars a night and as an accompanist. He continued studying piano and violin. When he was fifteen he was performing with dance bands. He also played the alto horn in brass bands. He was seventeen when he wrote his first commissioned work
He died on 3rd April 1972.
On The Trail
Ferde Grofé Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'On The Trail' by these artists:
Andre Kostelanetz & His Orchestra Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
Anita O'Day (Hee-hop, hee-hop, mule) (Hop-hee-hop, hee-hop) The st…
Clyde Hurley & His Orchestra Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
Clyde Hurley And His Orchestra When it's twilight on the trail, And I jog along,…
Dr. Willie Hill's Ensemble Coming this Christmas to a theater near you The most horrify…
Frankie Laine Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
Neal Hefti and His Orchestra Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
Ray Anthony & His Orchestra Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
Sidney Torch and His Orchestra Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
Sy Oliver and His Orchestra Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
The Glenn Miller Orchestra Angels come to paint the desert nightly When the moon…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@Rocketman88002
Somewhere in the early to mid 50's, Walt Disney had a special on the Grand Canyon and there was a scene of a tarantula walking over those beautiful bare rocks to this tune. From then on, the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam always come to mind when I hear it.
@kbdabear1
"You win this time Ralphie, but we'll be back!"
"Adios Bart, but if you do come back you'll be pushin' up daisies!"
@bigdog41407
And don't you forget it!
@BertieW0oster
Save us Ralphie!
@sandyfeet9502
My Mother and I did this ride over sixty years ago...looking at it today I think that we were crazy and I don't think I could do it again. Thank you for the music (which I love and the ride)!!!
@davidcrowell2345
Came for the tune - stayed for the presentation. OUTSTANDING !!!
@agaffo
My 3 year old daughter is obsessed with this video. Good thing is that she now knows this excellent music quite well
@carolinecorman2240
Angelo Gaffo my mom played this for my brother and I.
@roychefets6961
Could anyone possibly care??
@lengasparini2918
When I was a kid (about 4 or 5), every time I heard this on the radio I'd stop whatever I was doing and listen, enraptured.
His Mississippi Suite is wonderful too.