Ferde Grofé  (1892-1972)
Last updated: 01.09.24
According to the Internet source given below, Ferde Grofé was an American composer, arranger, pianist and instrumentalist.
He was taken abroad in 1899 by his mother to study piano, viola and composition in Leipzig, Germany. He was proficient on a number of instruments including piano, violin, viola, baritone horn, alto horn and cornet.
Leaving home aged 14 he played in a piano bar for two dollars a night also as an accompanist as well as numerous other jobs. Still just 14 he composed his first work, Four Rags for Piano (1906), and his first commissioned work when 17.
By 1920, he was playing jazz piano with the Paul Whiteman orchestra. and went on be Whiteman's principal arranger. As well as being a composer of many works (including orchestral) he recorded, worked on radio and TV, conducted and taught.
Websites:
url15.gif Ferde Grofé Biography by wikipedia.org.  
     Title Attribution Instruments Source Remarks
           
pdf15.gif Suez (1922) F. Grofé (music)
Peter DeRose (coauth.)
Will Pancoast (words)
Piano, Voice Indiana wvicon.gif
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 20 works by Ferde Grofé (1892-1972). It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: pdf15.gif (w&m)
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
Harlem 1906 from Four Rags for Piano
Hobble 1906 from Four Rags for Piano
Persimmon 1906 from Four Rags for Piano
Rattlesnake 1906 from Four Rags for Piano
Stop Your Kiddin' 1922 Jimmy McHugh (co-author)  wvicon.gif
Suez 1922 Peter DeRose (co-author)
Will Pancoast (words)
Vincent de Lopez (perf.)
 wvicon.gif
Cyclone, The 1923  Pub.
Daybreak 1926 Harold Adamson (words)
Tommy Dorsey (perf.)
Harry James (perf.)
Art Kassel (perf.)
 wvicon.gif
Father of Waters 1926
Mardi Gras 1926  youtube15.jpg
Old Creole Days 1926  youtube15.jpg
Alice Blue 1927  wvicon.gif
Heliotrope 1927
Indigo (w&m) 1927  Pub.
Musette 1928  Pub.
Blue Flame 1929  Pub.
Free Air 1929
Count Your Blessings 1933 Irving Caesar (words)
Edgar Guest (words)
Jimmie Durante (perf.)
Stuart Erwin (perf.)
Marjorie Rambeau (perf.)
Lupe Velez (perf.)
 wvicon.gif
Symphony in Steel 1936
Miss Mischief 1937  Pub. youtube15.jpg
     Composer Title Performer
       
youtube15.jpg F. Grofé Mardi Gras (3:45) Ragtime Dorian Henry
youtube15.jpg F. Grofé Miss Mischief (3:10) Ragtime Dorian Henry
youtube15.jpg F. Grofé Old Creole Days (1:11) Ragtime Dorian Henry