George Wilkins (composer)

George Wilkins is an American soundtrack composer who has created several noteworthy scores and songs for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

George Wilkins
Birth nameGeorge Edward Wilkins
BornMarch 1934
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresFilm score, contemporary classical music
Occupation(s)Composer, arranger, producer

Career

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

In 1979, Wilkins joined The Walt Disney Company as a protégé to composer Buddy Baker.[1] Throughout his time at Disney, Wilkins acted as both a "Composer in Residence " at Walt Disney Productions as well as the Director of Music for Walt Disney Imagineering.[3][5]

Credits
Year Title Notes
1964 Return to Oz TV Movie, additional music
1967 The Wacky World of Mother Goose Film[4]
1982 Living with the Land
1983 Horizons
1984 All Because Man Wanted to Fly Short film shown prior to Circle-Vision 360°
1984 Country Bear Christmas Special
1985 Space Mountain Composed queue music and We’ve Come So Far, which were added in 1985.
1986 The Living Seas Co-written with Russell Brower.[6]
1986 Country Bear Vacation Hoedown
1986-1987 The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin TV Series
1989 Goofy About Health Short film presented at the Wonders of Life pavilion
1994 Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
1994 Food Rocks
1995 Sonny Eclipse An audio-animatronic music show located at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe in Walt Disney World. Wilkins co-wrote the music with Kal David.[7]
1998 The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)
1998 It's Tough to Be a Bug!
1999 Test Track
2001 California Screamin'
2001 Superstar Limo

References
  1. 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.
  2. "The Doodletown Pipers". Progress Bulletin. Pomona, California. August 3, 1969. p. 101. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  3. "George Wilkins". Paso Digital Film Festival. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  4. 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.
  5. 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 1440528101.
  6. 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.
  7. 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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