Donald Eugene Gillis (June 17, 1912–January 10, 1978) was an American composer, conductor and teacher. The composition which has gained him most recognition is his orchestral Symphony No. 5½, A Symphony for Fun.

Biography

Gillis was born in Cameron, Missouri. His family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and he studied at Texas Christian University, playing trombone and acting as assistant director of the university band. He graduated in 1935, and obtained a masters degree from North Texas State University in 1943.

He became production director for the radio station WBAP, later moving to NBC where he became producer for the NBC Symphony Orchestra during the tenure of its conductor Arturo Toscanini. He held several teaching posts at academic institutions in the southern United States during his career, and also helped to found the Symphony of the Air orchestra. Gillis produced several NBC radio programs, including "Serenade to America" and "NBC Concert Hour." After Toscanini retired in 1954 Gillis, serving as president of the Symphony Foundation of America, was instrumental in helping to form the Symphony of the Air, using members of the old NBC Symphony. Gillis also produced the radio program "Toscanini: The Man Behind the Legend," which ran for several years on NBC after the Italian conductor's death.

Don Gillis may refer to:

See also

Donald A. "Don" Gillis (August 1, 1922 – April 23, 2008) was an American sportscaster, born in Canada, who was sports director of Boston's Channel 5 (WHDH-TV through March 18, 1972; thereafter WCVB-TV) from 1962 through 1983. Gillis pioneered the 11 p.m. sports report in Boston during his tenure at WHDH-TV, becoming the dean of the city's sports anchors, and also would host highly popular candlepin bowling programs on the station from 1967 to 1996.

Radio and sportscasting career

Gillis was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and his family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, when he was still a boy. After attending Holy Family High School in that city, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater of operations. At war's end, he attended Boston's Leland Powers School of Broadcasting on the GI Bill and began a career in radio broadcasting at New Bedford's WBSM-AM in 1949, becoming that station's first sports director. In 1951, he joined the on-air staff of Boston's WHDH-AM 850, where he hosted music programs before focusing exclusively on sports.