caption birth_place name background birth_date instrument genre image article_title birth_name occupation
kenny ascher washington , d.c. , usa kenny ascher non_vocal_instrumentalist 26 october 1944 piano big band , jazz , rock , film kenny ascher.jpg kenneth ascher
 kenneth lee ascher jazz pianist , composer , arranger , studio musician
kenneth ascher

kenneth lee `` kenny '' ascher -lrb- born october 26 , 1944 in washington , d.c. -rrb- is an american jazz pianist , composer , and arranger who is active in jazz , rock , classical , and musical theater genres -- in live venues , recording studios , and cinema production .
he is widely known for co-writing , with paul williams , `` rainbow connection '' -- music from `` the muppet movie '' .
both williams and ascher received oscar nominations for the 1979 academy awards for best original song -lrb- `` rainbow connection '' -rrb- and best original score -lrb- `` the muppet movie '' soundtrack -rrb- .
the song was also nominated for the golden globes for `` best original song '' that same year .
