Born in Kiev, Russian Ukraine to a peasant family; A composer of popular film songs. Son of Jacob Moiseevich Pokrass.
In 1920, during the Russian Civil War, he and the poet Pavel Grigoryev wrote fighting songs for the Red Army, including "White Army, Black Baron." That song's melody was used for the song Die Arbeiter von Wien ("The Workers of Vienna") in Red Vienna. Songs in that genre (Russian Romance) were banned by the Soviets in 1929.
Pokrass emigrated to France and then the United States, where he worked as a composer in Hollywood from 1934 to 1939. He was known primarily for the musical films The Three Musketeers, Tovarich, The Farmer in the Dell, The Little Princess, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and the operatic version of Cyrano.
His song "My Best Wishes" was used in the opening of the 2000 film The Legend of Bagger Vance.
His brothers Dmitry, Daniil and Arkady were also composers and musicians, sometimes using the name as Pokras, and remained in the Soviet Union. He died after a short bout of pneumonia.
In 1920, during the Russian Civil War, he and the poet Pavel Grigoryev wrote fighting songs for the Red Army, including "White Army, Black Baron." That song's melody was used for the song Die Arbeiter von Wien ("The Workers of Vienna") in Red Vienna. Songs in that genre (Russian Romance) were banned by the Soviets in 1929.
Pokrass emigrated to France and then the United States, where he worked as a composer in Hollywood from 1934 to 1939. He was known primarily for the musical films The Three Musketeers, Tovarich, The Farmer in the Dell, The Little Princess, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and the operatic version of Cyrano.
His song "My Best Wishes" was used in the opening of the 2000 film The Legend of Bagger Vance.
His brothers Dmitry, Daniil and Arkady were also composers and musicians, sometimes using the name as Pokras, and remained in the Soviet Union. He died after a short bout of pneumonia.
Born in Kiev, Russian Ukraine to a peasant family; A composer of popular film songs. Son of Jacob Moiseevich Pokrass.
In 1920, during the Russian Civil War, he and the poet Pavel Grigoryev wrote fighting songs for the Red Army, including "White Army, Black Baron." That song's melody was used for the song Die Arbeiter von Wien ("The Workers of Vienna") in Red Vienna. Songs in that genre (Russian Romance) were banned by the Soviets in 1929.
Pokrass emigrated to France and then the United States, where he worked as a composer in Hollywood from 1934 to 1939. He was known primarily for the musical films The Three Musketeers, Tovarich, The Farmer in the Dell, The Little Princess, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and the operatic version of Cyrano.
His song "My Best Wishes" was used in the opening of the 2000 film The Legend of Bagger Vance.
His brothers Dmitry, Daniil and Arkady were also composers and musicians, sometimes using the name as Pokras, and remained in the Soviet Union. He died after a short bout of pneumonia.
In 1920, during the Russian Civil War, he and the poet Pavel Grigoryev wrote fighting songs for the Red Army, including "White Army, Black Baron." That song's melody was used for the song Die Arbeiter von Wien ("The Workers of Vienna") in Red Vienna. Songs in that genre (Russian Romance) were banned by the Soviets in 1929.
Pokrass emigrated to France and then the United States, where he worked as a composer in Hollywood from 1934 to 1939. He was known primarily for the musical films The Three Musketeers, Tovarich, The Farmer in the Dell, The Little Princess, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and the operatic version of Cyrano.
His song "My Best Wishes" was used in the opening of the 2000 film The Legend of Bagger Vance.
His brothers Dmitry, Daniil and Arkady were also composers and musicians, sometimes using the name as Pokras, and remained in the Soviet Union. He died after a short bout of pneumonia.
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