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Broadway Orchestrator Michael Gibson Passes Away

By: Jul. 15, 2005
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Michael Gibson, the Tony-nominated orchestrator and arranger, has passed away at the age of 60.  Recently under the care of a hospice, he died in New Jersey on July 14th with lung cancer diagnosed as the cause of death.

A longtime collaborator of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb, Gibson orchestrated almost two dozen Broadway productions, and did the same for many more off-Broadway and regional shows. He received Tony nominations for his work for Kander and Ebb's Steel Pier and the 1998 revival of Cabaret, as well as a Drama Desk Award for My One and Only. Gibson's Broadway credits as an orchestrator include The Boy From Oz, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Kiss of the Spider Woman, My Favorite Year, Guys and Dolls, Meet Me in St. Louis, Anything Goes, Roza, The Rink, Woman of the Year, Pal Joey and Over Here! He also orchestrated the film version of Grease; the soundtrack later went platinum.  All Shook Up, which he co-orchestrated with Stephen Oremus, was his last Broadway venture.

Gibson had been working on a number of projects before his passing, including the upcoming Chita Rivera show The Dancer's Life (which he would have co-orchestrated with Danny Troob).  Like Gibson, Rivera has long been closely associated with Kander and Ebb (who himself passed away last year).  He had also been working on a symphonic evening of songs by the great team, whose often-brassy sound was enhanced by Gibson's work.

Gibson is survived by his wife Ellen.



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