Philip Glass

LOS ANGELES – OCT 09: Glass, Brett Morgen, and Jane Goodall arrive for the ‘Jane’ Los Angeles Premiere on October 9, 2017 in Hollywood, CA, DFree/Bigstock.com

Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Date of Birth: January 31, 1937

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Philip Glass is an American composer and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century.

Philip is the son of Ida, a librarian, and Benjamin Charles Glass, who owned a record store. His grandparents were Jewish emigrants from the Russian Empire, possibly Lithuania on his father’s side, and Ukraine on his mother’s. His cousin Cevia was a classical pianist.

He was married to artist Candy Jernigan, until her death. Philip has two children with his former wife, theatre director JoAnne Akalaitis; and two children with his former wife, restaurant manager Holly Critchlow.

Philip’s parternal grandfather was named Simon/Zalman Bas Glass (the son of Aron Yakov Glass and Freida).

Philip’s paternal grandmother was named Jennie/Shayne Shoshe Miller (the daughter of David Miller).

Philip’s maternal grandfather was named Jacob Israel Gouline (the son of Moshe Tzvi Galon). Jacob was born in Kremenets’, Kremenets’kyi district, Ternopil’s’ka oblast, Ukraine. He was said to have been the foster son of Yosef Goliner and Nesa Beyla Grinshpun.

Philip’s maternal grandmother was Ruchel/Rachel Golda Oks/Ochs (the daughter of Shebsel/Shabtay Oks and Nekha Shkurnik). Ruchel was born in Kremenets’. Shebsel was the son of Avrum/Avraham Oks and Pesya. Nekha was the daughter of Yosef Shkurnik and Sheyndil Gertsberg.

Sources: Genealogy of Philip Glass – https://www.geni.com

Genealogies of Philip’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com