According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ben Lanzarone (Vega$, Mork & Mindy) was an arranger, pianist, musical director, and composer who composed music for television programs including Happy Days, Dynasty, Mr. Belvedere, and The Tracey Ullman Show. He passed away recently and was eighty-five years old. Lanzarone was married to Ilene Gaff (Mr. Belvedre, Ladybugs) actress and singer and had worked on Broadway and toured alongside Petula Clark (Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Finian’s Rainbow) and Frank Sinatra (High Society, From Here To Eternity).
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lanzarone’s family declared his death from lung cancer on Friday, February 16th at his Los Angeles home.
And for production companies headed by Thomas Miller (Petrocelli, Silver Streak), Edward Milkis (Foul Play, Silver Streak), and/or Bob Boyett (Family Matters, Going Places), he composed the music for Mork & Mindy, Happy Days episodes (including the 1977 one where Henry Winkler’s Fonzie “jumped the shark”), and Laverne & Shirley, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Brooklyn native traveled with artists, such as Mary Travers (The Weavers: Wasn’t That A Time,Isn’t This a Time! A Tribute Concert for Harold Leventhal), Anthony Newley (Doctor Dolittle, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory), Sinatra, Art Garfunkel (The Rebound, Carnal Knowledge), Lainie Kazan (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Gigli), Mason Williams (Heartbreakers, Licorice Pizza) and Clark. In addition, he worked as an arranger and musical director on Broadway, contributing to the original Grease product
His lengthy collaboration with TV producers Douglas S. Cramer (Star Trek, QB VII) and Aaron Spelling (Charlie’s Angels, Mr.Mom) led to him producing music for shows like Hotel, Vega$, Matt Houston, The Colbys, Dynasty, and The Love Boat.
Lanzarone received the esteemed Most Performed Composer Award from ASCAP in 1986 for his work on television scores.
Benjamin Anthony Lanzarone was born on October 28, 1938. He completed his studies at the Manhattan School of Music with a double master’s degree and the prestigious High School of Music and Art in New York. He started out as a classical pianist, performing as a soloist with the Longines Symphonette across the nation and making his Carnegie Recital Hall debut.
When Lanzarone started collaborating with composer Charles Fox (Barbarella, 9 to 5) and songwriter Bob Crewe (Moulin Rouge, Free Guy), he entered the realm of popular music. Lanzarone’s album In Classic Form, which demonstrated his skill as a jazz and classical pianist, was the result of that. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he was identified as Bhen Lanzaroni on the LP.
Lanzarone went on to compose music for numerous Crewe productions, including recordings by Peter Nero (My Six Loves, Sunday In New York), Vicki Sue Robinson (The Martian, Chasing Amy), Bobby Darin (If A Man Answers, Passengers), Vikki Carr (Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, Moonstruck), and The Bob Crewe Generation, among other performers.
In addition to arranging and writing jingles for over a thousand records, soundtracks, and commercials, he contributed to the 1978 Grease soundtrack.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, his 46-year marriage to actress-singer Ilene Graff (Mr. Belvedere, Broadway’s Promises, Promises) produced a career together that included roles in movies, television shows, recordings, stage productions, and a Grammy nomination for their album Baby’s Broadway Lullabies from 2003. Moreover, they conducted a workshop titled “Making the Song Your Own.”
Additionally, they developed and performed cabaret shows in New York and Los Angeles with their daughter, Broadway veteran Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Bandslam, Divorce).
His daughter posted a tribute on Instagram.
As a member of the Board of Governors of the Recording Academy, Lanzarone donated his time to various charitable organizations, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, The Variety Club, and The Entertainment Community Fund.
In Los Angeles, there will be a private memorial service, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Contributions to the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) may be made in his honor.