{{Short description|American composer (1935–2015)}} '''Gary Geld''' (October 18, 1935 – June 17, 2015) was an American composer known for his work creating musicals and popular songs with his lyricist partner Peter Udell.
==Life and career== Geld was born on October 18, 1935.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Oxford companion to the American musical : theatre, film, and television|year=2008|author=Thomas S. Hischak|isbn= 9780195335330|publisher=Oxford University Press|chapter=Gary Geld}}</ref> Raised in Clifton, New Jersey, he graduated from Clifton High School, where he won a songwriting competition.<ref>Greatorex, Susan.[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110970414/gary-geld-of-clifton-high-school/ "Clifton's Geld makes beautiful music on Broadway"], ''Herald News'', May 29, 1975. Accessed October 8, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Broadway owes Clifton High School a note of thanks. On second thought, make that two notes and musical ones, please.... Geld left Clifton High School to study business administration at college."</ref> Gary Geld is an American composer, songwriter, author, publisher, and producer. He studied composition at New York University and business at the Juilliard School. In 1959, he co-founded the Geld-Udell Music Corporation with longtime collaborator Peter Udell, followed by the formation of Geld-Udell Productions in 1962. He joined ASCAP in 1961.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gary Geld – Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1122364/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |website=IMDb |access-date=2025-08-03}}</ref>
Throughout the 1960s, Geld wrote and produced music for popular artists including Connie Francis, Brian Hyland, Jackie Wilson, Gene Pitney, and Skeeter Davis. He is best known for co-writing the hit song "Sealed With a Kiss." Other notable compositions include "Ginny Come Lately" and "Let Me Belong to You." Geld and Udell co-created the Broadway musicals ''Purlie'' (1970, a nominee for the Tony Award for Best Musical), ''Shenandoah'' (1975), and ''Angel'' (1978).
His music for ''Shenandoah'' was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score in 1975. The song "Freedom" from the musical was performed at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gary Geld – Artist Bio |url=https://www.goodmantheatre.org/artists/gary-geld/ |website=Goodman Theatre |access-date=2025-08-03}}</ref> Geld and Udell also contributed songs to the musical dance revue ''American Dance Machine'' (1978).<ref>{{cite book|title=Stage it with Music: An Encyclopedic Guide to the American Musical Theatre|author=Thomas S. Hischak|year=1993|publisher=Greenwood Press|page=91|chapter=Gary Geld (1935- )|isbn=9780313287084}}</ref>
Geld died in Manhattan Beach, California on June 17, 2015, at the age of 79.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Estate of Composer Gary Geld |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1116391791765189&id=564563020281405&set=a.565070573563983 |website=Again L.A. Estate Sales on Facebook |access-date=7 September 2025 |date=1 June 2016}}</ref>
==Stage credits== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role ! class="unsortable" |Venue ! class="unsortable" |Ref. |- |1970 |rowspan=3|''Purlie'' |rowspan=8|Composer |Broadway, Broadway Theatre |rowspan=8|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gary Geld – Broadway Cast & Staff |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/gary-geld-11723 |website=Internet Broadway Database |access-date=2025-08-03}}</ref> |- |1971 |U.S. National Tour |- |1972 |Broadway, Billy Rose Theatre |- |1975 |rowspan=5|''Shenandoah'' |Broadway, Alvin Theatre |- |1976 |Regional, Ogunquit Playhouse |- |rowspan=2|1977 |U.S. National Tour |- |rowspan=2|Regional, Paper Mill Playhouse |- |1979 |- |rowspan=2|1978 |''Angel'' |Broadway, Minskoff Theatre |- |''American Dance Machine'' |Songs featured |Broadway, Century Theatre |- |1989 |''Shenandoah'' |rowspan=2|Composer |Broadway, Virginia Theatre |- |2005 |''Purlie'' |Regional, Goodman Theatre |}
==Film credits== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role ! class="unsortable" |Ref. |- |1972 |"Hurting Each Other," The Carpenters |Composer |- |1981 |''Purlie (TV Movie)'' |Composer |- |1989 |"Sealed With a Kiss," Jason Alexander |Composer |- |2018 |"Repeal What's Amiss," Don Caron |Composer |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Award !Year !Category !Work !Result !Ref. |- |rowspan=2|Tony Awards |1970 |Best Musical |''Purlie'' |{{nom}} |rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gary Geld – Broadway Cast & Staff |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/gary-geld-11723 |website=Internet Broadway Database |access-date=2025-08-03}}</ref> |- |1975 |Best Score |''Shenandoah'' |{{nom}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Geld, Gary}} Category:1935 births Category:2015 deaths Category:Clifton High School (New Jersey) alumni Category:People from Clifton, New Jersey Category:Songwriters from New Jersey Category:Musicians from Paterson, New Jersey Category:20th-century American composers Category:American musical theatre composers Category:American male musical theatre composers Category:Broadway composers and lyricists Category:New York University alumni Category:20th-century American male composers
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