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George Wilkins (composer)

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George Wilkins
Birth nameGeorge Edward Wilkins
Born(1934-03-14)March 14, 1934
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedNovember 9, 2024(2024-11-09) (aged 90)
GenresFilm score, contemporary classical music
Occupation(s)Composer, arranger, producer
Years active1964–2008

George Edward Wilkins (March 14, 1934 – November 9, 2024) was an American musician, arranger, and composer who was best known for his work with the Disney Parks.

Life and career

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George Edward Wilkins was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 14, 1934.

Early career

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Wilkins' first foray into music was serving as a solo vocalist at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit.[1] Wilkins got his start in the music industry as a backup vocalist and vocal arranger for Patti Page during the 1950s.[2] In the 1960s, he also co-founded the vocal group The Doodletown Pipers.[3] By this time, Wilkins broke out as a composer for film and television with his work on the Rankin/Bass productions Return to Oz (1964) and The Wacky World of Mother Goose (1967).[4][5]

Disney

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In 1979, Wilkins joined Walt Disney Productions as a protégé to composer Norman "Buddy" Baker, and was tasked with writing the arrangements for the Listen to the Land and Kitchen Kabaret attractions at EPCOT, which was opening in three years, but was thrust into a composer role for the entire park after Baker was involved in a car accident.[2][6] Wilkins then became music director for EPCOT in 1981 when Baker was called away to compose and conduct the score for The Fox and the Hound.[1]

Wilkins arranged several versions of the song "It's Fun to Be Free", for the World of Motion attraction, and arranged the Journey into Imagination ride music.[6] After several arrangement opportunities, Wilkins was finally tasked with lead composing duties on the Horizons pavilion, after Disney show development head Randy Bright had rejected the Sherman Brothers' compositions for the ride. Wilkins composed the pavilion's area loop, as well as all on-ride music and audio cues.[1]

Throughout his time at Disney, Wilkins acted as both a "composer in residence" as well as director of music for Walt Disney Imagineering.[7][8] Wilkins composed the music for the original song "We've Come So Far" for Space Mountain in 1984, as well as an instrumental arrangement for the attraction's queue, which remains installed in the attraction and can still be heard today.[1] Wilkins was soon called back to work on EPCOT after being tasked with composing the soundscapes for the new Living Seas pavilion with Russell Brower.[9] Wilkins also did all arrangements for the Kitchen Kabaret replacement Food Rocks, and composed all score and audio cues for Test Track in the late 1990s.[1]

Wilkins' final project with Disney was writing arrangements for "it's a small world" at Hong Kong Disneyland, before retiring from the company around 2008.[4]

Death

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Wilkins died on November 9, 2024, at age 90.[10][11]

Credits

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Film and television

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Year Title Notes
1964 Return to Oz TV movie, additional music
1967 The Wacky World of Mother Goose Film[5]
1986–1987 The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin TV series

Disney Parks

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Year Title Park Notes
1982 Kitchen Kabaret EPCOT The Land attraction; queue and attraction arrangements[1]
1982 Listen to the Land EPCOT The Land attraction; composed "Symphony of the Seed"[1]
1982 World of Motion EPCOT Arranged interior queue and attraction[1]
1982 ImageWorks EPCOT Imagination pavilion attraction; composed "Electronic Philhamonic"[1]
1982 Magic Eye Theater EPCOT Imagination pavilion attraction; arranged "Makin' Memories"[1]
1982 Universe of Energy EPCOT Composed Exxon logo music and arranged attraction finale[1]
1982 Entrance plaza EPCOT Arranged "Golden Dream" for the park's entrance plaza area music medley[1]
1982 EPCOT Electronic Forum EPCOT CommuniCore atttraction; composed theme[1]
1983 Journey into Imagination EPCOT Arranged exterior and interior background music and attraction music[1]
1983 Meet the World Tokyo Disneyland Arranged queue music[1]
1983 Horizons EPCOT Composed ride soundtrack, area loop, queue music, and post-show[1]
1984 Space Mountain Magic Kingdom Park Composed queue music, "Star Tunnel," and "We’ve Come So Far"[1]
1984 All Because Man Wanted to Fly Disneyland Park Short film shown prior to the World Premiere Circle-Vision film American Journeys; composer[1]
1984 Backstage Magic EPCOT CommuniCore attraction; composer[1]
1984 Country Bear Christmas Special Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Arranger[1]
1986 The Living Seas EPCOT Composed both attraction main theme and “Suited for the Sea” film with Russell Brower[12][1]
1986 Country Bear Vacation Hoedown Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Arranger[1]
1989 Goofy About Health EPCOT Wonders of Life attraction; composer[1]
1989 The Great Movie Ride Disney's Hollywood Studios Arranger[1]
1989 Pan Galactic Pizza Port Tokyo Disneyland Composer (lyrics by Kevin Rafferty)[1]
1991 Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D Disney's Hollywood Studios Queue music arranger[1]
1992 Walt's Restaurant Disneyland Paris Arranger[1]
1992 Silver Spur Restaurant Disneyland Paris Arranger[1]
1992 Le Pays des Contes de Fees Disneyland Paris Arranger[1]
1992 The American Adventure EPCOT Composed and arranged the 1992 revision of "Golden Dream"[1]
1993 Living with the Land EPCOT The Land attraction; composer[1]
1993 Carousel of Progress Magic Kingdom Arranger for 1993 revision[1]
1994 Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin Disneyland Arranger[1]
1994 Food Rocks EPCOT The Land attraction; attraction soundtrack producer[1]
1994 Sonny Eclipse Magic Kingdom Audio-Animatronic figure located at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe; Composer (lyrics by Kal David and Kevin Rafferty)[13][1]
1994 WACKY Radio Show Disneyland Mickey's Toontown area music; composer[1]
1998 The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) Magic Kingdom Arranger[1]
1998 It's Tough to Be a Bug! Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park Composer[1]
1998 Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Magic Kingdom Composer[1]
1999 Test Track EPCOT Queue medley composer[1]
2000 Pooh's Hunny Hunt Tokyo Disneyland Arranger[1]
2001 Paradise Pier Disney California Adventure Park Area music arranger[1]
2001 California Screamin' Disney California Adventure Composer (with Gary Hoey)[1]
2001 Superstar Limo Disney California Adventure Composer[1]
2001 Mediterranean Harbor Tokyo DisneySea Area music arranger[1]
2002 Journey Into Imagination with Figment EPCOT Composer[1]
2005 Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Disneyland Arranger[1]
2008 "it's a small world" Hong Kong Disneyland Arranger[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av Harris, Joshua. "George Wilkins is born". E82 | The Epcot Legacy. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Tuckey, Tammy (February 25, 2016). "Interview with George Wilkins, Disney Theme Park Composer". Podbean. The Tiara Talk Show. Archived from the original on September 3, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  3. ^ "The Doodletown Pipers". Progress Bulletin. Pomona, California. August 3, 1969. p. 101. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "George Wilkins". www.pasoroblesfilmfestival.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Ehrbar, Greg (August 30, 2016). "The Rankin/Bass (and Paul Coker, Jr.) "Wacky World of Mother Goose" (1965)". Cartoon Research. Archived from the original on September 3, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  6. ^ a b RetroMagic50 - Part 10 - George Wilkins, Tammy Tuckey, & Jeff Crawford, August 23, 2022, retrieved November 3, 2023
  7. ^ "George Wilkins". Paso Digital Film Festival. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  8. ^ Veness, Susan; Veness, Simon (April 15, 2012). The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World Planner: A Complete Organizer, Journal, and Keepsake for Your Unforgettable Vacation. Avon, Massachusetts: Adams Media. p. 3. ISBN 978-1440528101.
  9. ^ Heaton, Dan (April 12, 2021). "136. Russell Brower on the Innoventions Loop and Creating Music for Theme Parks". Tomorrow Society. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  10. ^ Legendary Disney Parks Composer George Wilkins Passes Away at Age 90 Laughing Place
  11. ^ McCubbin, Kelly (November 10, 2024). "The Sound of Progress — Legendary Composer George Wilkins Passes Away at 90". Boardwalk Times. Medium. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Brigante, Ricky (September 30, 2012). "Fascinating facets of Epcot's 30th anniversary explored by D23 in Walt Disney World fan celebration". Inside the Magic. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  13. ^ Mongello, Lou (September 6, 2011). "Kal David (Sonny Eclipse) Interview and Walt Disney World Fact or Fiction". WDWRadio. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
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