Ralph Burns

Ralph Burns (né Ralph Jose P. Burns; 29 June 29 1922 Newton, Massachusetts — 21 November 21 2001 Los Angeles) was an American songwriter, bandleader, composer, conductor, arranger and bebop pianist.Burns was born in Newton, Massachusetts where he began playing the piano as a child. In 1938, he attended the New England Conservatory of Music. He admitted that he learned the most about jazz by transcribing the works of Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. While a student, Burns lived in Frances Wayne’s home. Wayne was already a well-known big band singer and her brother Nick Jerret was a bandleader who began working with Burns. He found himself in the company of such famous performers as Nat King Cole and Art Tatum.