Trivia

In the 1940s, along with orchestrator Conrad Salinger, he was one of the musicians most responsible for changing (and, many would say, improving) the overall sound of the M-G-M Orchestra, partially through the re-seating of some of the players. This is why the overall orchestral sound of M-G-M's musicals from the mid 1940s onward is different from the orchestral sound of those made from 1929 until about 1944.

Recipient of thirteen Oscar nominations, five of which he actually won.

Won Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Oscars for three films which also won Best Picture: Un Américain à Paris (1951), West Side Story (1961) and Oliver! (1968).

Led the Academy Award Orchestra a total of seventeen times on Oscar Nights over the years.

Was the bandleader on The Jack Benny Program (1950) prior to Phil Harris.

Composer of numerous song standards, most notably "Body and Soul" but also "Coquette," "I Cover the Waterfront," "I'm Yours," "Out of Nowhere" and "Song of Raintree County".

Johnny's daughter Kathe was brought in when it was found the singing voice of Mark Lester wasn't quite what was wanted for the song "Where Is Love" in Oliver! (1968).

Father of Babbie Green and Kathe Green.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.