Buddy Bregman

BUDDY BREGMAN has long been internationally known as a multi-talented producer, director, writer, composer, conductor, arranger in the fields of music, records, television and motion pictures. A native of Chicago, his extensive musical education began at the age of five and within a few years he gave his first piano recital at Chicago's Baldwin Hall. By the age of twelve he had also mastered the clarinet and saxophone.
Buddy's professional career got underway at the age of 17 while still attending UCLA with Lieber & Stoller who wrote his first Rock & Roll hit record for Capitol I NEED YOUR LOVIN'. He started as arranger/conductor on records, TV shows and films, working -- in his first two years in the business -- with such stars as Ella Fitzgerald, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis,Jr., Rick Nelson, Anita O'Day, Annie Ross, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Bobby Short, Buddy Rich, Joel Grey, Louie Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, Carmen McRae, Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Bobby Darin and Eydie Gorme.
NBC Television recognized the young talent and hired him to do orchestrations for their variety shows, making him the youngest musical arranger ever to be employed by that network. Buddy, at that time, was also give special acclaim by the television industry with an Emmy Award nomination for his scoring of the NBC special ANYTHING GOES, with songs by Cole Porter, starring Frank Sinatra and Ethel Merman. Shortly thereafter, he recorded the first of 5 gold single records (2 of them going platinum). Buddy also turned his attention to composing music for films.
Buddy Bregman's COLE PORTER SONGBOOK and RODGERS & HART SONGBOOK -- double albums with ELLA FITZGERALD -- (both now platinum) both which he arranged and conducted, have been elected as two of the top twenty-five albums of all time in almost every magazine poll and Record Guide Book. A similar honor was accorded his album with BING CROSBY, 'BING SINGS WHILST BREGMAN SWINGS,' which he also arranged and conducted. The albums were recorded on Verve Records, the company Bregman helped to start and served as head of A&R. All three (3) albums having gone platinum!
After his tenure at Verve Records, Buddy became musical director of the NBC Chesterfield Television Hour, starring Eddie Fisher. During the second year of the program, NBC-TV decided to star him in his own show, BUDDY'S MUSIC SHOP. It was after this series that Buddy made the transition to producing and directing in television and films. InterTel, an international television organization, hired him to produce and direct a series of TV specials in Europe - in England, France and Germany - which have been seen throughout the world.
The success of these programs led to the BBC Television Network inviting Buddy to London to produce and direct major specials and series for the British Network. This was the first time BBC had ever signed a foreigner to a long-term contract. The situation proved lucrative for both parties, as Bregman was nominated Director of the Year upon completion of 1st year with the network.
After his tenure at the BBC, the London ITV Network soon engaged Buddy Bregman as Head of Entertainment for their commercial network. Buddy stayed with them until he was offered an opportunity with the Royal Shakespeare Company to write their first stage musical, `JUMP JIM CROW.' He then went into independent TV and film production. His first feature film starred Olivia Newton-John which, he produced and directed.
Upon his return to the United States in the 80's, Buddy accumlated a long list of credits in the capacity of producer and director on many television pilots, MOWs, specials and series.
Buddy's daughter, Tracey Elizabeth Bregman, is currently the star of CBS's #1 soap opera, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, playing 'Lauren Fenmore' for which she won the 'best actress' EMMY award. She is currently also starring as 'Lauren' in THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL!