American pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader.
Born June 29, 1922 in Newton, Massachusetts, USA.
Died November 21, 2001 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

He won an Academy Award for Cabaret in 1972. He also arranged, orchestrated and composed music for Lenny, New York, New York, All That Jazz, and many other movies.
Burns was a classically trained musician. He was a student at the New England Conservatory of Music in his late teens. He did yeoman service for Woody Herman in one or another his skilled capacities for nearly fifteen years.