Billy May
The brash, swinging architect of the Hollywood sound, his bold brass arrangements defined an era of television cool and big-band revival.
1916–2004 (age 88)·American composer, arranger and trumpeter·Birthday: November 10·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Billy May didn't just write music; he engineered sonic excitement. Starting as a trumpeter and arranger for Charlie Barnet's orchestra, he quickly made a name for himself with a punchy, aggressive brass style that cut through radio static. His big break came when he joined Capitol Records, where his inventive charts for artists like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole became classics. May had a genius for packaging sophistication with sheer fun, creating a sound that was both lush and rhythmically taut. This made him a natural for television's golden age. He composed the instantly recognizable, turbo-charged theme for 'The Green Hornet,' infused 'Naked City' with jazz-noir tension, and gave 'The Mod Squad' its funky, youthful edge. He later brought his expansive, romantic sensibility to film scores, most notably orchestrating the Oscar-winning 'Cocoon.' A larger-than-life character known for his love of martinis and sharp wit, May was the go-to arranger for anyone who wanted their music to have swing, swagger, and an unmistakable Hollywood sheen.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Billy was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Billy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Billy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 60
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 70
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 80
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Died at 88
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
Key Achievements
- Composed and arranged the iconic, driving theme music for the 1960s television series 'The Green Hornet.'
- Created memorable scores and themes for major TV shows including 'Naked City' and 'The Mod Squad.'
- Arranged and orchestrated the score for the 1985 film 'Cocoon,' which won the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
- Provided seminal big-band arrangements for Frank Sinatra's albums 'Come Fly with Me' and 'Come Dance with Me!'
- His work as an arranger helped define the sound of Capitol Records in the 1950s and 1960s.
Did You Know?
He was known for his distinctive, rotund physical appearance and his fondness for wearing loud, colorful suits.
May provided the quirky, comedic musical cues for the Stanley Kubrick film 'Dr. Strangelove.'
He led his own orchestra, Billy May and His Orchestra, which had a hit with the novelty song "The Poor People of Paris."
He arranged the music for the famous 1962 album 'The Nat King Cole Story,' a retrospective of Cole's career.
“A good arrangement is one that makes the band sound good.”
