American composer and arranger Ferde Grofé (1892-1972) was a significant figure in early 20th-century popular music, known for his innovative orchestrations and programmatic works. He gained prominence as the principal arranger for Paul Whiteman's orchestra, notably orchestrating George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Grofé's own compositions, such as the Grand Canyon Suite, vividly depicted American landscapes and contributed to the development of symphonic jazz.