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Robert Francis Brunner was an American composer and songwriter, who worked as a Disney Studios staff composer from 1963 to 1980. He scored films, such as The Boatniks, Blackbeard's Ghost, The Barefoot Executive, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, That Darn Cat!, and numerous other movies. He also wrote music for dozens of episodes of The Magical World of Disney.

Brunner was born in Pasadena, CA and grew up in Brentwood. He was musical as a child and was leading his own 20-piece dance band at age 11. He studied music at UCLA. He was awarded a Young Musicians Foundation scholarship and a Bank of America Achievement Award, and he was twice awarded University of Redlands Symphony of America Composers honors.

From in 1956 to 1971, he was the conductor and commanding officer of California's 562nd Air National Guard Band.

The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge honored Brunner with the George Washington Honor Medal for his patriotic anthem "So Many Voices Sing America's Song". He and lyricist Bruce Belland were recognized in the individual achievement category. The composition received nationwide acclaim and has been sung by many choirs, including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Brunner died on January 5, 2009, four days before his 71st birthday. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife, Diana Jenson, had two children.

Disney Filmography[]

Year Film Position
1960 Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus Composer: stock music - uncredited
1964 The Misadventures of Merlin Jones Orchestrator
1964 A Tiger Walks Orchestrator
1964-1978 The Magical World of Disney Composer
1965 That Darn Cat! Composer
1966 Lt. Robin Crusoe USN Composer
1967 Monkeys, Go Home! Composer
1968 Blackbeard's Ghost Composer
1968 Never a Dull Moment Composer
1968 Understanding Stresses and Strains Composer
1969 Smith! Composer
1969 Secrets of the Pirates' Inn Composer
1969 The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes Composer
Songwriter: "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes"
1969 Steps Toward Maturity and Health Composer
1970 Smoke Composer
1970 The Boatniks Composer
Songwriter: "Boatniks"
1970 The Wild Country Composer
1971 The Barefoot Executive Composer
Songwriter: "He's Gonna Make It"
1972 Snowball Express Composer
1972 Chandar, the Black Leopard of Ceylon Composer
1972 Now You See Him, Now You Don't Composer
1972 The Biscuit Eater Composer
1974 The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton Composer
1974 The Castaway Cowboy Composer
1975 The Strongest Man in the World Composer
1976 The Flight of the Grey Wolf Composer
1976 Gus Composer
1978 The Small One Composer
1979 The North Avenue Irregulars Composer
1980 Pacific High Composer
1981 Amy Composer
"So Many Ways" co-writer
1985 The Walt Disney Comedy and Magic Revue Musical Director: archive footage

Outside Filmography[]

Year Film Position Production Company
1965 Dear Brigitte Musician: piano - uncredited 20th Century Fox
1967 First to Fight Orchestrator Warner Bros.
1979 Banjo the Woodpile Cat Composer
Conductor
Music Arranger
Don Bluth Productions
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