The Jazz.com Blog
October 12, 2008 · 22 comments
Where is the Outrage Over Russ Garcia's Denied Oscar?
Where is the outrage?
Several weeks ago, Marc Myers published an amazing and unsettling story in his JazzWax blog. The esteemed composer and arranger Russ Garcia had been denied an Oscar due to a case of mistaken identity. Myers did some superior sleuthing, and put together the facts in a first class exposé.
Garcia is now 92-years-old. It would be great to rectify this wrong while he is still alive. Yet the silence is deadening.
I thought this story would be covered by the mainstream media, and discussed by other jazz writers. I kept waiting for this newsworthy tale to be picked up by The New York Times or The New Yorker or the Associated Press—or somebody. Yet I am still waiting . . . and waiting . . . and waiting. Is jazz coverage in the media so dead that a story of this proportions can come to light and then be left untouched?
Apparently it is.
The facts, as Myers brought them out, showed that Garcia had written orchestrations of Charlie Chaplin’s music for the Oscar-winning score of Limelight. Garcia also composed incidental music for the movie, and participated in the recording of the score. Yet the Oscar was given—probably due to confusion over names—to Larry Russell, who apparently had no involvement with the score.
How could this happen? The problem arose because twenty years had elapsed between the production of the Limelight (which was first premiered in London in 1953) and its US released (in 1972). Chaplin’s supposed “subversive tendencies” and investigation by the Justice Department had created an environment in which this film was kept out of U.S. theaters for two decades. When this movie finally was eligible for an Oscar, many of the people who had been involved in its production were dead, including co-arranger Ray Rasch. It seems that the Academy officials asked Rasch's widow to identify the other people involved in the project, and she must have responded “someone named Russell”—setting in motion the eventual awarding of a posthumous Oscar to Larry Russell.
If these facts are true—and I am convinced by the case Myers has made—then Garcia deserves an Oscar. The Academy seems content to ignore this matter—largely (I believe) because not a single newspaper has covered this story. Russ Garcia, for his part, is a very unassuming individual and won't pursue the matter himself. His comment to Myers is revealing: “I’m a Baha'i. It’s part of my faith never to be the source of grief to anyone. I didn't want Larry's widow or family or anyone to feel bad. I still don't. I've won plenty of awards.”
But no one is suggesting that Larry Russell’s award be taken away. Yet the Academy owes one to Russ Garcia. And should act while he is still around to receive the honor.
On a separate note, I would like to dwell on the poor showing by the print media on this matter. I hear constantly how bloggers are “not real journalists” and “don’t break real stories.” Yet the Garcia saga is just one more example of the opposite phenomenon. I check out the jazz coverage in a wide range of media outlets on a daily basis. I can assure you that the top ten jazz bloggers on the web are providing better coverage of the art form than all of the U.S. newspapers combined. Then again, that’s not hard to achieve after decades of declining jazz coverage in the press.
We may not be able to reverse that trend. But if we stir things up a bit, we might be able to get Russ Garcia his Oscar. One place to start is by putting some pressure on Sid Ganis, the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy accepts questions and inquiries from the public at http://www.oscars.org/contact/general.html.
This blog article posted by Ted Gioia.
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22 responses so far
Great piece!!! Russ Garcia deserves being given his Oscar, the mans humility should not be misused and his contribution and achievement should be awarded. keep pushing!!!
Beside that; what Russ Garcia has done with his music to promote peace and friendship in so many places in the world, deserves an Oscars in itself!
Wow, I actually know Russ Garcia (I'm a Baha'i also) and had no idea about any of this. I think I'll forward this information to the main news media outlets (CNN, NBC, etc.) and see what happens though with all the political coverage, it's hard to see they'll have time for this. But who knows? No one deserves an Oscar more than Russ. He's the greatest! His music is gorgeous. Remember The Time Machine?
As a member of ASCAP let's see if they have any clout with the Academy. Russ is a great composer who is deserving of his "due".
Justice is a primary principle of the Baha'i Faith and is often pursued with great vigor by Baha'is worldwide...for others. Russ Garcia's humility is a prime example of the Baha'i personality. He deserves an Oscar, but for the sake of unity, will not pursue it himself. The Academy should award Garcia one just for that alone, since Oscars are awarded for exceptionally distinctive qualities in the industry.
I had the great honor of being in a choir that Mr. Garcia was the conductor as well as composer of several pieces we performed. This is a truly great man. As Mr Blue Heron stated above, the principle of justice must be pursued. Injustices in little things beget injustices in very large things.
Russ Garcia is a true prince and the most gifted and humble musical genius I have been privileged to work under. I hope our requests of the Academy to recognize his contributions will bear fruit.
I echo the above comments. I was totally unaware of this, and had the joy of singing with Russ in the Baha'i World Congress choir in 1992, as well as at the Fire of the Pacific Conference in 2001. I would love to see him receive an overdue award, but can also appreciate the sentiments he has expressed. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
I agree. Having known the Garcias all my life (I was 13 when Russ started the California Victory Choir, which my sister and I sang in), it would be good to see justice done - another principle of the Baha'i Faith. (Also interesting to see so many of my old friends responding to this blog!) Excellent blog - keep it up - hope you will join all bloggers on 15 Oct for Blog ACtion Day on the theme of poverty!
I also agree. A few weeks ago I helped arrange an newspaper interview for Russ and Gina here in Slovakia and heard him tell the story of the mis-awarded Oscar. There is such humility and understanding in this precious man in his recounting of the facts and his desire to not bring grief to the heart of anyone over this matter. I believe that the statuette would not be refused if it finally came his way, but in listening to him speak, I sensed that he had focused his mind on more meaningful rewards and accolades farther beyond the horizon of the Hollywood hills.
I cannot but agree to everything that has been said. Garcia's music and songs have been a delight to my heart ever since I became a Baha'i some 50 years ago and he has moved the hearts of so many more people inside and outside the Baha'i whether it be in listening to his music or watching him conducting an orchestra. He is a real genius and we are lucky to have known him.
I cannot but agree wholeheartedly. Please follow through. He truly is an inspiration.
he humble repose of Russ Garcia is exemplary. I am most confident that Mr Garcia's "work" delivered with such reverence for the art will shine through all this inaction. It is my hope that this oversight (through ignorance or otherwise) will be corrected imminently.
Russ Garcia is one of the greatest talents on earth! This man not only deserves an Oscar, he deserves to be acknowledged and respected for his brilliant work!
I am so inspired by Russ Garcia's sheer sense of thought and care for others, over his own.What a great man. And he makes great music. Surely there is no better candidate for the Oscar's than Russ. Awesome!!
I echo the above sentiments re: Russ Garcia. I had the bounty to meet him in NY City in 1992 when my wife Deb & I were members of the Baha'i World Congress choir. What a tremendous man and such a humble soul. I grew up in eastern Canada enjoying his work on the Baha'i Victory Chorus so many years ago. Fantastic.
Russ Garcia has been providing great music. This mistake should be rectified. He has inspired many
Russ Garcia is one of those few people who ---in spite of his achievements which are almost too numerous to mention---is one of the kindest people in the world. If you are a composer or arranger, he will listen to your music and give you thoughtful comments or observations ---so unlike others in Hollywood. He deserves an Oscar for that alone!
Mistakes should be corrected, no matter where they occur, regardless of the reason (especially a bad memory). Justice is the real issue here.
I, too, wholeheartedly agree that something should be done to correct this oversight. Russ and Gina are two of my dearest friends for some 50 years. Russ's work is phenomenal and, in fact, deserves more than just an Oscar, but rather a worldwide recognition of his talent. I pray that your efforts bring in fruitful results. Thank you so much!
I wasn't aware of this until today, but I wholeheartedly agree. I was at the Bahai World Congress in 1992--and yes, the music was awesome! That alone deserves an Oscar. Thank-you for pursuing this!
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