Scott Bradley was a highly acclaimed and accomplished American composer, pianist, and conductor, renowned for his extraordinary contributions to the world of music, particularly in the realm of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) theatrical cartoons.
Noted American animator and filmmaker, Bradley, owed his exceptional proficiency in the realm of music to his conservatory education, thus solidifying his position as a master of his craft. It was in the year 1934 that Bradley's creative endeavors commenced, as he began collaborating with esteemed individuals Hugh Harman and Rudy Ising, producing a series of cartoon shorts for the renowned Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) film studio.
Following the establishment of MGM's own in-house cartoon studio in 1937, Bradley was officially hired as a permanent member of the team, and it was within this esteemed organization that he remained until his eventual retirement in 1957, marking the culmination of a remarkable career spanning over two decades.
Bradley's artistic trajectory in the realm of animation scoring was marked by an early predilection for incorporating fragments of familiar popular and traditional melodies, a stylistic trait not uncommon in the field. Nevertheless, by the late 1940s, his compositional and orchestrational endeavors underwent a significant metamorphosis, as his works began to assume a more original and intricate character.
Inspired by the groundbreaking contributions of Arnold Schoenberg, the Austrian composer who pioneered the twelve-tone technique, Bradley's innovative approach to music was also influenced by the works of other prominent composers of the time. Specifically, the Hungarian composer Bela Bartok, the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, and the German composer Paul Hindemith all left their indelible mark on Bradley's artistic development.
Notably, Bradley's scores were widely acclaimed for their remarkable complexity, with the esteemed concertmaster Lou Raderman making a humorous yet telling remark in Sight & Sound magazine, stating that Scott writes the most challenging fiddle music in Hollywood, a sentiment that is likely to leave even the most skilled musicians feeling daunted, as Raderman himself quipped, "Scott is going to break my fingers."
Bradley, a composer of great distinction, took immense pride in his work, particularly in his "funny music," and believed that scoring for animation offered a unique set of creative possibilities that were not typically available in live-action films.
Bradley, a renowned animator, bid farewell to his illustrious career in 1957, marking the closure of MGM's cartoon department, a milestone that brought an end to a remarkable era of his professional life.
Later, on April 27, 1977, Bradley's remarkable journey on this earth came to an end, as he peacefully passed away in Chatsworth, California, leaving behind a profound and lasting legacy that would forever be etched in the annals of animation history.
Throughout his illustrious career, Bradley had established himself as one of the most talented and influential animators of his time, a testament to his unwavering dedication, unrelenting passion, and unbridled creativity.
