Chorus director who helped score films dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul Salamunovich, longtime director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale who helped score movies including "The Godfather," has died. He was 86.
The chorale's publicist, Libby Huebner, says the Grammy-nominated conductor died Thursday of complications related to West Nile virus.
From 1991 to 2001, Salamunovich exposed millions to choral music through recordings and live performances.
The New York Times declared the chorus one of America's top vocal ensembles during his final season.
Salamunovich also helped score and sing on soundtracks for numerous films, including "The Godfather," "How the West was Won" and "A.I. Artificial Intelligence."
He was choral music director at St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood for 60 years until retiring in 2009.
Salamunovich taught music at several colleges, including the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music.
