Phil Ohman

Phil Ohman, born Fillmore Wellington Ohman on October 7, 1896, in New Britain, Connecticut, was an American pianist, film composer, and Broadway musician. He died on August 8, 1954, in Santa Monica, California.

Ohman is best remembered for his piano duo partnership with Victor Arden, which flourished between 1922 and 1932 and stood among the most prominent such pairings of the era. Together, the two served as pit pianists for numerous George Gershwin musicals, including the 1924 Broadway production of Lady, Be Good!. Their work in the pit placed them at the center of some of the most significant musical theater productions of the decade.

Beyond the stage, Ohman and Arden recorded hundreds of piano rolls and records throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Beginning in mid-1927, coinciding with their signing to Victor Records, the duo expanded their work to include a large studio orchestra that specialized in Broadway show songs. Their recordings for the label were characterized by a full, brassy sound, and consistently featured a section dedicated to twin piano duet performance.

Ohman also pursued a career in film composition, with screen credits spanning from the early 1920s through the late 1940s. His filmography includes Try and Play It, Up and Down the Keys, and Piano Pan, all from 1922, as well as later works such as Dick Tracy vs. Cueball in 1946 and Million Dollar Weekend in 1948.