Gary Geld (October 18, 1935 – June 17, 2015) was an American composer known for his work creating musicals and popular songs with his lyricist partner Peter Udell.
Life and career Geld was born on October 18, 1935. Raised in Clifton, New Jersey, he graduated from Clifton High School, where he won a songwriting competition.Greatorex, Susan."Clifton's Geld makes beautiful music on Broadway", Herald News, May 29, 1975. Accessed October 8, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Broadway owes Clifton High School a note of thanks. On second thought, make that two notes and musical ones, please.... Geld left Clifton High School to study business administration at college." Gary Geld is an American composer, songwriter, author, publisher, and producer. He studied composition at New York University and business at the Juilliard School. In 1959, he co-founded the Geld-Udell Music Corporation with longtime collaborator Peter Udell, followed by the formation of Geld-Udell Productions in 1962. He joined ASCAP in 1961.
Throughout the 1960s, Geld wrote and produced music for popular artists including Connie Francis, Brian Hyland, Jackie Wilson, Gene Pitney, and Skeeter Davis. He is best known for co-writing the hit song "Sealed With a Kiss." Other notable compositions include "Ginny Come Lately" and "Let Me Belong to You." Geld and Udell co-created the Broadway musicals Purlie (1970, a nominee for the Tony Award for Best Musical), Shenandoah (1975), and Angel (1978).
His music for Shenandoah was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score in 1975. The song "Freedom" from the musical was performed at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1989. Geld and Udell also contributed songs to the musical dance revue American Dance Machine (1978).
Geld died in Manhattan Beach, California on June 17, 2015, at the age of 79.
Stage credits YearTitleRoleVenueRef.1970PurlieComposerBroadway, Broadway Theatre1971U.S. National Tour1972Broadway, Billy Rose Theatre1975ShenandoahBroadway, Alvin Theatre1976Regional, Ogunquit Playhouse1977U.S. National TourRegional, Paper Mill Playhouse19791978AngelBroadway, Minskoff TheatreAmerican Dance MachineSongs featuredBroadway, Century Theatre1989ShenandoahComposerBroadway, Virginia Theatre2005PurlieRegional, Goodman Theatre
Film credits YearTitleRoleRef.1972"Hurting Each Other," The CarpentersComposer1981Purlie (TV Movie)Composer1989"Sealed With a Kiss," Jason DoonovanComposer2018"Repeal What's Amiss," Don CaronComposer
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryWorkResultRef.Tony Awards1970Best MusicalPurlie1975Best ScoreShenandoah
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