Al Burton
{{short description|American composer, conductor, consultant, producer, production manager and screenwriter}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Al Burton
|birth_name = Alan Burton Goldstone
|birth_date = {{birth date|1928|04|09}}
|birth_place = Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2019|10|22|1928|04|09}}
|death_place = San Mateo, California, U.S.
|education = Northwestern University
|occupation = Composer, conductor, consultant, producer, production manager, screenwriter
|years_active = 1949–2019
|spouse = Sally Burton
}}
Alan Burton Goldstone (April 9, 1928 – October 22, 2019) was an American composer, conductor, consultant, producer, production manager and screenwriter.
Early life
Burton was born in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Northwestern University, when he earned his degree, in 1948.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/al-burton-jeffersons-diff-rent-010929682.html|title=Al Burton, 'Jeffersons' and 'Diff'rent Strokes' Producer, Dies at 91|date=23 October 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2021}}
Career
Burton started his career in 1949, as producing and writing the variety Campus to Campus.{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QA4EAAAAMBAJ&q=al+burton+21+years+old|title=Billboard (July 23, 1949)|magazine=Billboard|date=23 July 1949|page=14|issn=0006-2510}}
From the 1950s to the 1970s, Burton produced television programs and films, including, The Oscar Levant Show,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n7xkAAAAMAAJ|title=Variety Who's who in Show Business|page=57|date=1985|publisher=Garland Pub.|isbn=9780824098063 }} Hollywood a Go-Go{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6xdr_5r0xVgC|title=If You Fall Down, Pick Yourself Up Like a Lady (A Woman's Search for Love and Who She Met Along the Way)|page=10|date=2009|publisher=DORRANCE PUBLISHING Company, Incorporated|isbn=9781434902603}} and Malibu U,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b-fjAgAAQBAJ|title=Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece|page=|date=March 7, 2005|publisher=Bobcat Books|isbn=9781783231980}} among others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2019/10/22/al-burton-producer-jeffersons-diffrent-strokes-dies-91/2452125001/|title=Al Burton, producer of sitcoms including 'The Jeffersons,' 'Diff'rent Strokes,' dies at 91|website=USA Today|access-date=April 29, 2021}}
From the 1970s to the 1980s, Burton started working with screenwriter, Norman Lear on his soap opera television series, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2019-10-23/al-burton-obituary-producer-jeffersons-diffrent-strokes-dead|title=Al Burton, producer on 'The Jeffersons' and 'Diff'rent Strokes,' dies|website=Los Angeles Times|date=23 October 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2021}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6USy3LDtdPEC|title=The Real Stars (In Today's America, Who are the True Heroes?)|page=127|date=July 2010|publisher=ReadHowYouWant.com, Limited|isbn=9781458790125}} He also was a composer, conductor and consultant for Diff'rent Strokes (and its spin-off The Facts of Life) and Hello, Larry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.8newsnow.com/entertainment-news/jeffersons-diffrent-strokes-producer-al-burton-dies/|title='Jeffersons,' 'Diff'rent Strokes' producer Al Burton dies|date=22 October 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2021}}
From the 1980s to 2019, Burton worked on Charles in Charge, as the executive producer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/news/al-burton-dead-prolific-television-producer-executive-was-91-1249451|title=Al Burton, Prolific Television Producer and Executive, Dies at 91|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=22 October 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2021}} Later in his career, he worked on Family Guy, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Goldbergs, Saturday Night Live and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.{{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Mike |title=Al Burton, Prolific Television Producer and Executive, Dies at 91 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/al-burton-dead-prolific-television-producer-executive-was-91-1249451/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=22 October 2019}}
Death
Burton died on October 22, 2019, of natural causes at his home in San Mateo, California, at the age of 91.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/arts/television/al-burton-dead.html|title=Al Burton, 91, Dies; Sitcom Producer With an Eye for Youth Culture|work=The New York Times |date=4 November 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2021 |last1=Sandomir |first1=Richard }}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/al-burton-dead-dies-one-day-at-a-time-1203380223/|title=Al Burton, 'Jeffersons' and 'Diff'rent Strokes' Producer, Dies at 91|date=23 October 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/al-burton-television-producer-with-decades-of-success-dead-at-91-1202766606/|title=Al Burton, Television Producer With Decades Of Success, Dead At 91|date=23 October 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0123504}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burton, Al}}
Category:Television producers from Ohio
Category:American male television writers
Category:American television writers
Category:Film producers from Ohio
Category:American television composers
Category:American conductors (music)
Category:People from Columbus, Ohio
Category:20th-century American composers