Nathan Kaproff

KAPROFF, Nathan One of Hollywood's top music contractors, played with Glenn Miller's wartime band and was the personnel manager of the Pasadena Symphony for decades, died Wednesday. He was 86. A violinist whose discography includes credits on albums as diverse as The Monkees to Frank Sinatra, Santana to The Jackson 5, Tom Waits to Bobby Darin, he went on to work with the film industry's leading composers. In his youth, he played with the Stawkowski Youth Orchestra and attended New York's High School of Performing Arts, graduating (along with lifelong friend and colleague Elmer Bernstein) in that school's first graduating class. He answered the call to serve in WWII and was quickly snapped up to be a principal violinist in Glenn Miller's wartime band performing for troops in the European theater. After the war, he came to LA and became one of the most prominent musical contractors in the film industry. He worked hiring and managing orchestras for Hollywood's top echelon of film composers and served as their right hand. His composer-client list reads like a Who's Who of film music including includes names like: Conti, Bernstein, Jarre, Goldsmith, Schiffrin, Horner, and many, many others. His work was essential in getting a score from paper to soundtrack for films such as the entire Rocky series; Dances With Wolves; Patriot Games; Fatal Attraction; and literally hundreds more. He served for 17 years as the contractor for The Academy Awards Show, working closely with musical director Bill Conti, to ensure a successful Awards ceremony. He was a founding member of the LA Music Center and one of the pivotal figures in the music profession in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Rose, stepchildren Steven, Susan and Ken Rose and nephew Dana Kaproff. A memorial service will be held to honor Nathan's life in music. Location and time to be announced.