Profile Text
Birth Name: George Edward Bruns
Date of Birth: July 3, 1914
Place of Birth: Sandy, Oregon, U.S.
Date of Death: May 23, 1983
Place of Death: Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Ethnicity: German
George Bruns was an American composer. Known for his work with Disney, as the studio’s music director, he composed the scores for the films Sleeping Beauty (1959), One Hundred and One Dalmatians , The Absent-Minded Professor , Babes in Toyland , (1961), The Sword in the Stone (1963), The Jungle Book (1967), The Love Bug , The Aristocats , and Robin Hood (1973). He was a bandleader at the Multnomah Hotel in Portland. He contributed to some of the most memorable film productions of his era, and received several award nominations. His music became a familiar part of film and television entertainment.
George was the son of Augusta Sophia and Edward Fred/Fredrick Bruns, a lumber mill proprietor, who was said to have built the first lumber mill on Mount Hood. He was married to Dorothy Colclough, until his death, with whom he had six children.
George’s paternal grandfather was Herman Bruns (the son of Christian Bruns and Wilhelmine Kramer). Herman was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, and was a pioneer of Portland, OR. Christian was born in Hanover, the son of Johann Friedrich Bruns and Margaretha Hinrichs. Wilhelmine was born in Prussia.
George’s paternal grandmother was named Caroline Wilhelmine Folendorf (the daughter of Heinrich/Henry Foldorf and Sophia). Caroline was born in Hanover, Prussia, Germany.
George’s maternal grandfather was Albert Carl Friedrich Weyer (the son of Frederick/Friedrich/Fred Christian Weyer and Wilhelmine/Wilhelmina Loida Schroeder). Albert was born in Brandenburg, Germany, to parents from Schroeder. He was a cheese factory operator and farmer. Wilhelmina was the daughter of John Schweder and Mary.
George’s maternal grandmother was Wilhelmine/Minna/Minnie Fredericke Marie Bruns. Wilhelmine was born in Newton, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and appears to have been the sister of George’s paternal grandfather Herman Bruns, making his parents first cousins.
Source: Genealogy of George Bruns – https://www.findagrave.com