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American composer, conductor, flutist, playwright, and author, best known for creating the iconic Broadway musical 'The Music Man'.Born in Mason City, Iowa.Studied at the Damrosch Institute of Music (later Juilliard).Played flute with John Philip Sousa's band and the New York Philharmonic.Served as music director for radio networks NBC and CBS.Composed symphonies, film scores, and popular songs.Achieved legendary status with the Broadway musical 'The Music Man' (1957).Won two Tony Awards and a Grammy for 'The Music Man'.Wrote three autobiographies.Died in Santa Monica, California.

• Willson served as the Musical Director for the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Service during WWII, where he supervised music programs broadcast to troops worldwide.
• He worked on 'The Music Man' for nearly eight years, facing initial rejections and undergoing numerous revisions before its triumphant Broadway premiere.
• A multi-talented musician, Willson was proficient on flute, piccolo, and piano, and was known for his skills as a conductor and arranger.