Joseph Francis Kuhn
Joseph Francis Kuhn (December 24, 1924 – March 10, 1962) was an American symphonic composer, arranger and conductor, particularly remembered for his sweeping rhapsodies, who was active from the 1950s until 1961, when he retired due to a terminal illness. Kuhn was born December 24, 1924. He attended Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia and performed with the school band. He graduated in 1942 and joined the U.S. Army 103rd Infantry Division band, which performed for troops during World War II. While Kuhn was in Paris, he performed with jazz guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt. Upon his return to Philadelphia after the war, he studied music under the G.I. Bill. Kuhn had met Anna Marie Hughes while attending high school, and they were married in 1947. His wife Anna was an operatic singer and performed with the Philadelphia La Scala Opera and the Philadelphia Civic Opera. Early career Kuhn was skilled on the piano and the guitar, and was composing music in the late 1940s and early 1950s inspired by the big band sound of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and other famed band leaders, and symphonic jazz composers like George Gershwin. He performed in many local clubs and other venues.