Background
Marais, Josef was born on November 17, 1905 in South Africa. Son of Max and Annie (Highman) Pessach.
Marais, Josef was born on November 17, 1905 in South Africa. Son of Max and Annie (Highman) Pessach.
Student South African College of Music, 1923, Royal Academy Music, London, 1928. Violin studies with Otokar Sevcik, Jeno Hubay, 1930.
Came to the United States, 1939, naturalized, 1945. Radio program African Trek, Blue Network, 1939-1941. Head Afrikaans and Dutch broadcasts, O.W.I., 1941-1945.
Partner Marais and Miranda, folk ballad singers, from 1945.
President Fideree Music Corporation. Appeared in Hollywood Bowl.
Recordings Decca, Kapp, Motivation, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer records. Writer music Africana Suite for Broadway play Too Late the Phalarope.
Composer opera Tony Beaver, Paul Gauguin Suite for art film The Noble Savage, Hebraic Rhapsody for film Land of the Book.
Creator popular songs Sugarbush, Around the Corner, Marching to Pretoria. First symphonic appearance with Franz Allers, Lewisohn Stadium, New York, also Grant Park, Chicago, 1957. Faculty, adviser Idyllwild Arts Foundation, University of Southern California Idyllwild School Music and Arts, Idyllwild, California.
Member American Guild Musical Artists, American Federation television and Radio Artists, American Federation Musicians, Am Camping Association (honorary). Lion (honorary).
Married Rosa Lily Odette Baruch, July 18, 1947.
