ABOUT DEEMS TAYLOR

Deems Taylor for whom the ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards program was named, served as ASCAP President from 1942 to 1948, and as a member of the ASCAP Board of Directors from 1933 to 1966. He was not only a highly regarded composer of concert music and operas (his works include Through the Looking Glass, The Siren Song, Peter Ibbetson and The King’s Henchman), but a distinguished music critic, journalist, commentator and broadcast personality. During his long career, Deems Taylor wrote for such publications as The New York Tribune, The New York World, The New York American and Musical America, and authored such books as The Well-Tempered Listener, Of Men and Music and Music to My Ears. He was the memorable narrator of the animated Disney classic, Fantasia, and served as the commentator for radio broadcasts of the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera.