Galt MacDermot

Galt MacDermot
MacDermot circa 1972
Born
Arthur Terence Galt MacDermot

(1928-12-18)December 18, 1928
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DiedDecember 17, 2018(2018-12-17) (aged 89)
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationBishop's University
Cape Town University
Spouse
Marlene Bruynzeel
(m. 1956)
Children5
RelativesTerence MacDermot (father)
Musical career
Genres
  • Musical theater
  • jazz
  • funk
  • classical music
  • film score
Occupations
  • Composer
  • pianist
Years active1954–2018

Arthur Terence Galt MacDermot (December 18, 1928 – December 17, 2018) was a Canadian-American composer, pianist and writer of musical theater. He won a Grammy Award for the song "African Waltz" in 1960. His most-successful musicals were Hair (1967; its cast album also won a Grammy) and Two Gentlemen of Verona (1971). MacDermot also composed music for film soundtracks, jazz and funk albums, and classical music, and his music has been sampled in hit hip-hop songs and albums. He is best known for his work on Hair, which produced three number-one singles in 1969: "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", "Good Morning Starshine", and the title song "Hair".