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George Edward Wilkins (March 14, 1934 – November 9, 2024) was an American musician, arranger, and composer who was best known for his work with the Disney Parks.

Life and career

George Edward Wilkins was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 14, 1934.

Early career

Wilkins' first foray into music was serving as a solo vocalist at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit. Wilkins got his start in the music industry as a backup vocalist and vocal arranger for Patti Page during the 1950s. In the 1960s, he also co-founded the vocal group The Doodletown Pipers. By this time, Wilkins broke out as a composer for film and television with his work on the Rankin/Bass productions Return to Oz (1964) and The Wacky World of Mother Goose (1967).

Disney

In 1979, Wilkins joined Walt Disney Productions as a protégé to composer Norman "Buddy" Baker, and was tasked with writing the arrangements for the Listen to the Land and Kitchen Kabaret attractions at EPCOT, which was opening in three years, but was thrust into a composer role for the entire park after Baker was involved in a car accident. Wilkins then became music director for EPCOT in 1981 when Baker was called away to compose and conduct the score for The Fox and the Hound.

Wilkins arranged several versions of the song "It's Fun to Be Free", for the World of Motion attraction, and arranged the Journey into Imagination ride music. After several arrangement opportunities, Wilkins was finally tasked with lead composing duties on the Horizons pavilion, after Disney show development head Randy Bright had rejected the Sherman Brothers' compositions for the ride. Wilkins composed the pavilion's area loop, as well as all on-ride music and audio cues.

Throughout his time at Disney, Wilkins acted as both a "composer in residence" as well as director of music for Walt Disney Imagineering. Wilkins composed the music for the original song "We've Come So Far" for Space Mountain in 1984, as well as an instrumental arrangement for the attraction's queue, which remains installed in the attraction and can still be heard today. Wilkins was soon called back to work on EPCOT after being tasked with composing the soundscapes for the new Living Seas pavilion with Russell Brower. Wilkins also did all arrangements for the Kitchen Kabaret replacement Food Rocks, and composed all score and audio cues for Test Track in the late 1990s.

Wilkins' final project with Disney was writing arrangements for "it's a small world" at Hong Kong Disneyland, before retiring from the company around 2008.

Death

Wilkins died on November 9, 2024, at age 90.

Credits

Film and television

Disney Parks

References

1. ^ Harris, Joshua. "George Wilkins is born". E82 | The Epcot Legacy. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
2. ^ 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.
3. "The Doodletown Pipers". Progress Bulletin. Pomona, California. August 3, 1969. p. 101. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
4. ^ "George Wilkins". www.pasoroblesfilmfestival.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
5. ^ 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.
6. ^ RetroMagic50 - Part 10 - George Wilkins, Tammy Tuckey, & Jeff Crawford, August 23, 2022, retrieved November 3, 2023
7. "George Wilkins". Paso Digital Film Festival. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
8. 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 978-1440528101.
9. Heaton, Dan (April 12, 2021). "136. Russell Brower on the Innoventions Loop and Creating Music for Theme Parks". Tomorrow Society. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
10. Legendary Disney Parks Composer George Wilkins Passes Away at Age 90 Laughing Place
11. McCubbin, Kelly (November 10, 2024). "The Sound of Progress — Legendary Composer George Wilkins Passes Away at 90". Boardwalk Times. Medium. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
12. 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.
13. 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.

External links

• George Wilkins at IMDb
• George Wilkins discography at Discogs

• 1934 births
• 2024 deaths
• 20th-century American conductors (music)
• 20th-century American classical composers
• 21st-century American conductors (music)
• 21st-century American classical composers
• American contemporary classical composers
• American film score composers
• American male classical composers
• American male conductors (music)
• American television composers
• Disney imagineers
• Disney music
• American male film score composers
• Disney Theatrical Productions
• Musicians from Detroit