Lee Erwin (organist)

Lee Orville Erwin (July 15, 1908 – September 21, 2000) was an American theatre organist who played an important part in a revival of interest in the silent film era. His career began as an organist accompanying first-run silent films in the 1920s. He received classical training in Cincinnati and France, and then began a career as organist and arranger for radio, significantly at WLW and CBS Radio, the latter in association with Arthur Godfrey, that lasted through the mid-1960s. When his radio career ended he was commissioned to provide complete new scores for silent films exceeding seventy in number, and in this capacity and as an organist for silent film tours and exhibitions he received widespread critical acclaim. Erwin was active into his early 90s.

Biography

Lee Orville Erwin was born July 15, 1908, in Huntsville, Alabama. His mother was a church organist for a small congregation, and at age of four Erwin would copy on a toy piano what his mother was playing on a regular instrument. He began formal music training from a local teacher at the same time he entered school. Hooked by both the films and the organs, Erwin developed a habit of regularly attending movie theatres. Both of Huntsville's theatres found out about his abilities as an organist, and at the age of twelve he was playing at both as a substitute and without pay, but it allowed him free entrance.