David Raksin (1912- 2004) American composer who was renowned for his work in film and television. With over 100 film scores and 300 television scores to his credit, he became known as the "Grandfather of Film Music."Letter, 1963, 1p, to Milton Ebbins about Composers and Lyricists Guild of America. Signed in ink.One of Raksin’s earliest film assignments was as assistant to Charlie Chaplin in the composition of the score to Modern Times (1936). He is perhaps best remembered for the haunting theme to the 1944 movie Laura, which became the 1945 song "Laura". Johnny Mercer put lyrics to this theme, and during Raksin's lifetime this was said to be the second most-recorded song in history following Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish. He also wrote the theme song for (and scored the pilot of) Ben Casey.Milton Ebbins (1912–2008) Film executive, songwriter ("Yale Blues", "Basic Boogie") and composer. Ebbins helped produce JFK’s 1961 Inaugural Ball and the subsequent 1962 JFK Anniversary Gala. In May of 1962, Ebbins escorted a very late Marilyn Monroe to Madison Square Garden where she famously — and breathlessly — sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.” He was also the man that Lawford called after speaking to Monroe the night of her death in August of 1962. Ebbins was one of the few allowed inside the White House after the JFK assassination. As the link between Washington and Hollywood, Ebbins helped Kennedy family patriarch and former ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy navigate through the movie business, not only keeping him apprised of his son-in-law’s career moves but at one point advising him against purchasing United Artists’ movie studio. At the time of his death, Ebbins was working with his friend, actor Bill Paxton, on an HBO project about the Kennedy assassination.

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