David Mann

A self-taught pianist, David Mann (born David Freedman) was born in Philadelphia in 1916. After graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music he moved to New York and became a session musician for the likes of Charley Spivak, Jimmy Dorsey, Gordon Macrae, and Artie Shaw's orchestra. He served in the Army during World War II, and after his discharge he was appointed personal pianist to President Truman. He appeared in the films Twenty Grand, I Dood It, Four Jills and A Jeep, Pin-Up Girl, and Second Chorus before relocating to Hollywood where he found a career scoring films. His songwriting career began to wane after the British Invasion, and he subsequently left the music industry. He died in 2002 from complications due to pneumonia and kidney failure.