Ronald Stein

Louis Ronald Stein (April 12, 1930 - August 15, 1988) was an American film composer and conductor. At the height of his career in the 1950s and 1960s, he was best known for scoring B movies produced by American International Pictures and Roger Corman. Early life and education Born and raised in St. Louis, Stein learned how to play piano from his mother Ceclia, a pianist for silent film theaters. From 1938 to 1947, he was privately tutored at Leo C. Miller’s Institute of Music, and then studied at Washington University from 1947 to 1951, and also worked as the assistant conductor for the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre. Stein attended Yale University in 1951, but was drafted into the United States Army Special Services, serving at Fort Dix, New Jersey from 1952 to 1954. When he returned home, Stein became a solo pianist at St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Career In 1955, Stein composed his first film score, Apache Woman. After this, he signed a 5-year contract with American International Pictures, with whom he composed 55 scores. Stein wrote scores for many low-budget horror and exploitation films during the 1950s and 1960s, most of which were released by American International Pictu