Park Foundation Music App

Home > Artists

Phil Ohman

American composer and pianist. b. October 7, 1896 (New Britain, CT, USA) d. August 8, 1954 (Santa Monica, CA, USA) Piano wizard Phil Ohman was among the most popular entertainers of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Together with partner Victor Arden, he recorded hundreds of songs and piano rolls featuring the duo's ''pyrotechnical'' keyboard style. The pair was also featured on numerous radio programs and led pit orchestras for several George Gershwin musicals. Ohman received his musical training while in high school. Impressed by his talent, his music teacher advised his parents to send him to Europe to study, but his family couldn't afford it. Instead he studied two years with a local pipe organist. His first job, which he started in 1915, was as a piano salesman at Wannamaker's in New York City. In 1919 he found employment at the QRS Piano Roll company, where he met his future partner, Victor Arden. During the early 1920s Ohman began working as an arranger and composer for both classical and popular singers. In 1922 he was hired as the pianist for Paul Whiteman's orchestra. He remained with Whiteman for only a year, after which he decided to form a team with his friend, Arden. The two made a name for themselves in vaudeville and playing small clubs on 52nd Street. In 1924 they were hired to conduct the pit orchestra for the Gershwin musical Lady Be Good, the first of many shows in which they were involved. Among the other musicals they worked on were Funny Face, Oh Kay, Tip Toes and Spring Is Here. They eventually formed a full big band, which featured various vocalists, including Frank Luther. The duo also appeared in Vitaphone short subjects and worked on several radio programs, the American Album of Familiar Music, The Buick Program and the Bayer Music Review. Arden and Ohman split in 1934, though a brief reunion produced several recordings for the Brunswick label. After the break-up Ohman was asked to put together an orchestra for the Trocadero night club in Hollywood. While in Hollywood he began working in motion pictures -- scoring films, writing songs, and working with actors who had to simulate piano playing onscreen. Ohman's best known song is ''Lost,'' with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. He remained active in film and radio into the 1950s.