Sheldon "Shelly" Kurland was a violinist and musical arranger who worked as a session musician in Nashville and provided arrangements for a number of prominent country musicians.
Background
Sheldon Kurland was a native of Brooklyn, New York, the son of Samuel and Beatrice Kurland and brother of Elaine Todd Koren. His parents were strong advocates of the arts and his father started teaching Sheldon the violin and Elaine the piano when they were five. Sheldon continued to be taught by his father for many years until he entered Juilliard School in New York City, where he was trained as a classical musician.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Julliard School Music, 1955. MM, University Tulsa, 1956.
Career
After receiving a master"s degree, he began his professional career at Cornell University. In 1964 he moved to Nashville to accept a faculty position at Peabody College. After arriving in Nashville, Kurland began performing as a session musician for producers such as Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley who were creating a new "Nashville sound" that incorporated classical strings in place of the fiddle sound that had characterized country music
He was to play for thousands of sessions, often as leader of a group credited as the Sheldon Kurland Strings or Shelly Kurland Strings.
In the late 1960s he resigned his teaching position to become a full-time musician. His credits as an arranger included "Half the Way" and "When I Dream" for Crystal Gayle and "I Wouldn"t Have Missed lieutenant for the World" for Ronnie Milsap.
His music awards were among the music memorabilia that decorated the walls of the Bluebird Cafe. Kurland retired from music in the 1980s.
He died in Nashville on January 6, 2010, at age 81.
His book, An Adult Guide to the Orchestra, was published posthumously.
Achievements
Membership
Served with United States Army.
Connections
Married Barbara Kurland, June 5, 1955. Children: Amy, Wendy, Peter.