17 Facts About Galt MacDermot

Arthur Terence Galt MacDermot was a Canadian-American composer, pianist and writer of musical theater.

Galt MacDermot won a Grammy Award for the song "African Waltz" in 1960.

Galt MacDermot's music has been sampled in numerous hip-hop songs and albums.

Galt MacDermot was born in Montreal, the son of Canadian diplomat Terence Galt MacDermot and Elizabeth Savage.

Galt MacDermot was educated at Upper Canada College and Bishop's University.

Galt MacDermot received a bachelor's degree in music from Cape Town University, South Africa, and made a study of African music his specialty.

Galt MacDermot won his first Grammy Award for the Cannonball Adderley recording of his song "African Waltz" in 1960.

Galt MacDermot moved to New York City in 1964 where, three years later, he wrote the music for the hit musical Hair, which he later adapted for the 1979 film of the same name.

Galt MacDermot had another hit with the musical Two Gentlemen of Verona, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Galt MacDermot wrote his own orchestrations and arrangements for his theater and film scores.

In 1979, Galt MacDermot formed the New Pulse Jazz Band, which performed and recorded his original music and was one of the first jazz bands to feature synthesizer.

Galt MacDermot's oeuvre includes ballet scores, chamber music, the Anglican liturgy, orchestral music, poetry, incidental music for plays, band repertory, and opera.

In 2009, Galt MacDermot was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.

On November 22,2010, Galt MacDermot was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by SOCAN at the 2010 SOCAN Awards in Toronto.

Galt MacDermot died at his home in Staten Island, New York on December 17,2018, the day before his 90th birthday.

Galt MacDermot's music is popular with collectors of jazz and funk.

In 2006, rapper and producer Oh No released an album produced completely with Galt MacDermot samples, titled Exodus into Unheard Rhythms.