Organist Transplant

 

London-born musician/composer Rex Koury (1911-2006) and family came to the United States in 1913, settling n New Jersey. He was an organist during the silent film era from 1927-1929 and featured organ soloist throughout New York state from 1929-1934. He held cinema organ positions at several theaters, including a contract with RKO Proctor's Fourth Street Theatre in Troy, Ohio where he was billed by the theatre as "The Youngest Professional Organist in America." As the cinema organ industry was starting to wind down, he moved to Hollywood and worked as a conductor, pianist, and composer for movie studios. He found steady work composing music for numerous popular radio programs. By the early Fifties, he composed his most famous theme, the slow western melody "The Long Trail," for the CBS radio show "Gunsmoke" (above with William Conrad)  A theme that continued for the half-hour television CBS show in 1955. Eventually, a faster-paced version was created then a more contemporary arrangement for the remainder of the show's run. Koury had a long association with church music as an organist. He retired to Casper, Wyoming in the Seventies where he commanded one of the largest pipe organs at the First Presbyterian Church.