Ray Conniff
Ray Conniff (* 6. November 1916 in Attleboro , Massachusetts ; † 12. October 2002 in Escondido , California ) was an American with the Grammy excellent composer , arranger , bandleader and trombonist , known as the "father of the Easy Listening was." In the six decades of his career, he sold over 50 million albums and placed over 25 albums in the top 40 in the United States alone.
Life
Origin and education
Conniff came from a musical family. His father John Lawrence led the Jewelry City Band orchestra in Attleboro and played the trombone, his mother Maude "Angela" Connigg piano. Even in high school , Ray is said to have founded a dance orchestra with classmates. He got his very first job as an arranger with Dan Murphy's Musical Skippers in Boston . In 1937 Conniff is said to have gone to New York with "200 dollars" in his pocket and a packed lunch to be trained as a professional musician at the Juilliard School of Music with Tom Timothy, Sol Kaplan and Hugo Friedhofer. In addition, he often appeared in nightclub bands. In 1938 he started as a trombonist in the big band of Bunny Berigan , where he stayed for fifteen months. He then moved to Bob Crosby , between 1940 and 1945 he worked in three different formations for Artie Shaw and for Glen Gray . Towards the end of the Second World War he had to do his two years of military service, during which he worked on the American Forces Network in Hollywood with the composer Walter Schumann and the Harry James Orchestra . With the triumph of bebop , which Conniff referred to as "noise", he had problems finding employment and at times worked as a construction worker. He was threatened with a foreclosure auction and had to get by on "$ 30" a week. From 1949 he deepened himself in private studies on rhythm and harmony. While listening to commercials for weeks, as well as Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller records, Conniff said that the rhythmic repetition in the background is what makes "80 percent" of all tracks successful: "There was always a sound template running subliminally You can call it the 'ghost melody' next to the actual one. And the whole thing is overlaid by another scheme, the tempo template. All I can say is, it's like a kind of pulsation. The average listener loves this type of sound -Pulse, not intrusive, but reliable in the background. "
Work for Columbia Records
In 1953, Conniff made a brief appearance in the film The Glenn Miller Story . In the same year he worked with Mitch Miller , then head of the Artists and Repertoire department at Columbia Records. Conniff became chief arranger there and worked as a studio musician for numerous artists, including Rosemary Clooney , Marty Robbins , Frankie Laine , Johnny Matthis , Guy Mitchell and Johnnie Ray . With Band of Gold for Don Cherry , Conniff landed his first hit in the top ten of the charts (number 5) in 1955, a success that Conniff attributed primarily to the radio DJs, who supported him very much at the time. The title has been sold more than a million times. Work for Tony Bennett ( Tony ) and Eileen Rodgers ( Blue Swing ) followed. Under the name Jay Raye (for Joseph Raymond ) he produced several albums for Columbia's Epic label during these early years , including singles with the Somethin 'Smith and the Redheads , a male choir. The results include Just Walking in the Rain and Yes Tonight Josephine for Johnnie Ray, both top 10 successes in Germany, A White Sport Coat for Marty Robbins, Chances Are for Johnny Mathis and Moonlight Gambler for Frankie Laine.
Arrangement of the typical Conniff sound
The arrangements, which were very unusual at the time, gave him the chance to produce his own LP in 1956 , the title track of which, 'S Wonderful' by George Gershwin , became his personal signature tune throughout his career. Conniff's recipe for success was even then his unmistakable sound, which was characterized by two peculiarities: A rhythm section reinforced by a strong echo , in which the guitar was mostly used parallel to the drums , and a wordless s (w) ing choir . Benny Goodman involuntarily "discovered" the echo effect when he wanted to record a record in New York and no studio was free. Since time was pressing, he had to move to the Liederkranz Hall , which, as it turned out, had the acoustics of a cathedral. From then on, many big bands wanted to use this sound for themselves. Conniff explained the development of his musical "trademark" in an interview: "I once recorded an album with Mitch Miller, we had a big band and a small choir available. I suggested that the choir sing Vokalisen at the same time as the band . The women about the trumpets, the men about the trumpets. At the control desk, Mitch was totally surprised and ecstatic at how well it worked. " Conniff succeeded in merging instruments and voices so well that the listener got the impression of a common body of sound.
International success
Between 1957 and 1968, 28 Conniff albums made it into the American Top 40, including the first stereo record ´S Awful Nice (1957) and Somewhere My Love (1966). In 1969 he took first place in the British album charts with His Orchestra, His Chorus, His Singers, His Sound, thus effectively promoting his subsequent tour through Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In 1974 he was one of the first American artists to record a record in Moscow ( Ray Conniff in Moscow ). The Soviet label Melodiya had sent the arranger 22 Russian folk tunes, of which he was asked to choose eleven to produce again. For this purpose, an orchestra and choir were made available to him on site. With albums like exclusivamente Latino , Amor Amor and Latinisimo he started in comparatively old age a career in South America, where he as a young talent was celebrated and whole football stadiums filled, such as Viña del Mar . In March 1997, after 40 years, Conniff moved from Columbia to PolyGram / Universal Records and in Brazil to Abril . The albums Ray Conniff Live In Rio , I Love Movies and My Way , a tribute album for Frank Sinatra , were created for PolyGram . For Abril he recorded, among other albums, Do Ray Para o Rei (2000) with titles by Roberto Carlos . Conniff was still on stage at 85, toured Brazil and played at the wedding of Liza Minnelli and David Gest.
role models
Among the composers who Conniff says he felt personally inspired are Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov , Victor Young and Henry Mancini . He was always "more interested in good melodies than good chords" and valued quality. Conniff mockingly criticized songs with an odd number of bars in the chorus as "left-hand music". With this, composers no longer reached the "normal listener", because they "don't want their foot in the air" when dancing on the final chord. In this respect, Conniff professed "simplicity" in music, even though he appreciated refined chords.
family
Conniff was married three times. From his first marriage to Emily Jo Ann Imhof, he had a son James Lawrence and a daughter Jo Ann Patricia. His second wife, Ann Marie Engberg, brought the stepson Richard J. Bibo into the marriage. On August 2, 1968, he married Vera Schmidheiny from Switzerland, who appeared on some of his album covers. He died in 2002 after a fall in the bathtub caused by a stroke in Escondido, California .
plant
Conniff released around 100 LPs and sold more than 70 million records worldwide . His biggest hit was Somewhere My Love (1966), the theme of Lara from the film Dr. Zhivago . The single and the LP of the same name reached the US Top 10. The “Conniff Sound” trademark shaped the easy listening music of the time from the late 1950s to the late 1970s .
Discography
Albums
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | AT | UK | US | |||
1957 | 'S Wonderful! | - | - | - |
US11 (16 weeks) US |
|
'S Marvelous | - | - | - |
US10
gold
(37 weeks)US |
First published: November 1957
… and His Orchestra Producer: Ray Conniff |
|
1958 | 'S Awful Nice | - | - |
UK13 (1 week) UK |
US9 (52 weeks) US |
First published: June 1958
… and His Orchestra and Chorus |
Concert in Rhythm, Vol. 1 | - | - | - |
US9
gold
(50 weeks)US |
First published: September 1958
… and His Orchestra and Chorus |
|
1959 | Broadway in Rhythm |
DE37 (4 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US10 (20 weeks) US |
First published: March 1959
... and His Orchestra and Chorus chart entry in DE only in August 1964 |
Hollywood in rhythm | - | - | - |
US29 (8 weeks) US |
First published: May 1959
… and His Orchestra |
|
Conniff Meets Butterfield | - | - | - |
US8 (36 weeks) US |
||
Christmas with Conniff | - | - | - |
US14th
platinum
(9 weeks)US |
First published: December 1959
Re-entry: 1960, 1961 |
|
1960 | It's the talk of the town | - | - |
UK15 (1 week) UK |
US8 (54 weeks) US |
First published: August 1959
The Ray Conniff Singers |
Concert in Rhythm, Vol. 2 | - | - | - |
US13 (33 weeks) US |
First published: February 1960
… and His Orchestra and Chorus |
|
Young at Heart | - | - | - |
US6 (28 weeks) US |
First published: July 1960
The Ray Conniff Singers |
|
Say It with Music (A Touch of Latin) | - | - | - |
US4 (58 weeks) US |
First published: September 1960
… and His Orchestra and Chorus |
|
1961 | Memories Are Made of This | - | - |
UK14 (4 weeks) UK |
US4th
gold
(34 weeks)US |
First published: January 1961
… and His Orchestra and Chorus Producers: Rann Productions, Inc. |
Somebody Loves Me |
DE8 (16 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US14 (34 weeks) US |
First published: August 1961
The Ray Conniff Singers |
|
1962 | So much in love | - | - | - |
US5
gold
(34 weeks)US |
First published: January 1962
The Ray Conniff Singers |
'S Continental |
DE12 (24 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US6 (25 weeks) US |
First published: April 1962
… and His Orchestra and Chorus Producers: Rann Productions, Inc. |
|
Rhapsody in Rhythm | - | - | - |
US28 (16 weeks) US |
First published: September 1962
… and His Orchestra and Chorus |
|
We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
DE12 (1 week) DE |
- | - |
US32
platinum
(… Where.)US |
First published: October 1962
… and the he Ray Conniff Singers |
|
1963 | The happy beat |
DE7 (24 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US20 (15 weeks) US |
First published: February 1963
… and His Orchestra and Chorus |
Just kiddin 'around | - | - | - |
US85 (13 weeks) US |
First published: August 1963
with Billy Butterfield |
|
1964 | You Make Me Feel so Young | - | - | - |
US73 (17 weeks) US |
First published: January 1964
… and His Orchestra and Chorus |
Speak to Me of Love | - | - | - |
US50 (19 weeks) US |
First published: May 1964
The Ray Conniff Singers |
|
Invisible Tears |
DE24 (32 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US23 (27 weeks) US |
First published: September 1964
… and the Singers |
|
1965 | Friendly persuasion | - | - | - |
US141 (5 weeks) US |
First published: February 1965
… and His Orchestra and Chorus |
Music from Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and Other Great Movie Themes |
- | - | - |
US34 (19 weeks) US |
First published: May 1965
… and the Singers |
|
Love affair |
DE12 (20 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US54 (16 weeks) US |
First published: July 1965
… and the Singers |
|
1966 | Happiness Is |
DE20 (24 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US80 (9 weeks) US |
First published: March 1966
|
Somewhere My Love |
DE11 (40 weeks) DE |
- |
UK34 (3 weeks) UK |
US3
platinum
(90 weeks)US |
First published: May 1966
... and the Singers in USA for four weeks in 3rd place |
|
1967 | Ray Conniff's World of Hits | - | - | - |
US78 (10 weeks) US |
First published: January 1967
Producer: Ernie Altschuler |
Ray Conniff en Espanol! | - | - | - |
US180 (2 weeks) US |
First published: April 1967
The Ray Conniff Singers |
|
This Is My Song and Other Great Hits |
DE25 (12 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US30 (46 weeks) US |
First published: May 1967
… and the Singers |
|
Hawaiian album | - | - | - |
US39 (15 weeks) US |
First published: September 1967
with The Ray Conniff Singers Producer: Nedra Olds-Neal |
|
1968 | It must be him |
DE28 (12 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US25th
gold
(41 weeks)US |
First published: January 1968
… and the Singers |
Honey |
DE17 (4 weeks) DE |
- | - |
US22nd
gold
(39 weeks)US |
First published: April 1968
… and the Singers |
|
Turn Around Look at Me | - | - | - |
US70 (22 weeks) US |
First published: October 1968
… and the Singers Producer: Jack Gold |
|
1969 | I love how you love me | - | - | - |
US101 (14 weeks) US |
First published: February 1969
… and the Singers Producer: Jack Gold |
Jean | - | - | - |
US103 (21 weeks) US |
First published: December 1969
… and the Singers Producer: Jack Gold |
|
1970 | Bridge over Troubled Water | - | - |
UK30th
silver
(14 weeks)UK |
US47 (28 weeks) US |
First published: March 1970
… and the Singers Producer: Jack Gold |
Ray Conniff's Concert in Stereo (Live at the Sahara / Tahoe) |
- | - | - |
US177 (5 weeks) US |
First release: August 1970
… and the Singers double live album; Producer: Jack Gold |
|
We've Only Just Begun | - | - | - |
US120 (13 weeks) US |
First published: December 1970
… and the Singers Producer: Jack Gold |
|
1971 | Love story | - | - |
UK34 (1 week) UK |
US98 (15 weeks) US |
First published: March 1971
… and the Singers Producer: Jack Gold |
Great Contemporary Instrumental Hits | - | - | - |
US185 (5 weeks) US |
First published: August 1971
Producer: Jack Gold |
|
1972 | I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing | - | - |
UK17 (4 weeks) UK |
US138 (11 weeks) US |
First published: January 1972
… and the Singers Producer: Snuff Garrett |
Love Theme from "The Godfather" | - | - | - |
US114 (14 weeks) US |
First published: May 1972
Producer: Jack Gold |
|
Alone Again (Naturally) | - | - | - |
US180 (10 weeks) US |
First published: September 1972
Producer: Jack Gold |
|
1973 | Clair (UK) / I Can See Clearly Now (US) | - | - |
UK39 (2 weeks) UK |
US165 (10 weeks) US |
First published: February 1973
… and the Singers Producer: Jack Gold |
You Are the Sunshine of My Life | - | - | - |
US176 (5 weeks) US |
First published: September 1973
Producer: Jack Gold |
|
Harmony | - | - |
UK24 (4 weeks) UK |
US194 (4 weeks) US |
First published: September 1973
Producer: Jack Gold |
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
More albums
|
|
Compilations
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | AT | UK | US | |||
1960 | Conniff Hi-Fi Companion | - | - |
UK3
gold
(48 weeks)UK |
- |
First published: November 1960
… and His Orchestra and Chorus double album |
1962 | Bravo, Ray Conniff |
DE6 (24 weeks) DE |
- | - | - |
First published: July 1962
|
1964 | 'S Wonderful -' S Marvelous | - | - |
UK18 (3 weeks) UK |
- |
First release: December 1962
double album |
1968 | His Orchestra ∙ His Chorus ∙ His Singers ∙ His Sound | - | - |
UK1 (16 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: June 1969
with His Orchestra, His Chorus, His Singers |
1969 | Ray Conniff's Greatest Hits | - | - | - |
US158
gold
(5 weeks)US |
First published: 1969
with His Orchestra, His Chorus, His Singers |
1979 | Moon river |
DE11 (11 weeks) DE |
AT25 (4 weeks) AT |
- | - |
First published: November 1979
|
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
More compilations
|
|
Singles
year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE | US | |||
1957 | 'S Wonderful ’s Wonderful |
- |
US73 (4 weeks) US |
First published: January 14, 1957
… and His Orchestra Authors: George Gershwin , Ira Gershwin Original: Adele Astaire & Allen Kearns , 1927 |
1960 | Midnight Lace Happiness Is |
- |
US92 (4 weeks) US |
First published: September 12, 1960
… with His Orchestra and Chorus Authors: Jerome Howard, Joe Lubin |
1961 | Begin the Beguine |
DE50 (4 weeks) DE |
- | |
1964 | Invisible Tears Invisible Tears |
- |
US57 (10 weeks) US |
First published: June 9, 1964
… and the Singers Authors: Ned Miller, Sue Miller Original: Ned Miller , 1964 |
1966 | Somewhere, My Love (Lara's Theme) Dr. Zhivago (soundtrack) |
DE25 (2 weeks) DE |
US9 (12 weeks) US |
First published: April 25, 1966
… and the Singers from the soundtrack of the film Doktor Schiwago Grammy (Best Performance by a Chorus) Authors: Maurice Jarre , Paul Francis Webster Original (instrumental): Maurice Jarre, 1965 |
Lookin 'for love |
- |
US94 (2 weeks) US |
||
1967 | Mame Ray Conniff's Greatest Hits |
DE16 (4 weeks) DE |
- |
More singles
|
|
statistics
Chart evaluation
|
|
Awards for music sales
Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.
Country / Region | silver | gold | platinum | Sales | swell |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards for music sales (country / region, awards, sales, sources) |
|||||
United States (RIAA) | - | 7 × gold7th | 4 × platinum4th | 7,500,000 | riaa.com |
United Kingdom (BPI) | 2 × silver2 | gold1 | - | 220,000 | bpi.co.uk |
All in all | 2 × silver2 | 8 × gold8th | 4 × platinum4th |
swell
- ↑ DIED: Ray Conniff . In: Der Spiegel . No. 43 , 2002 ( online - 21 October 2002 ).
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ http://www.rayconniff.info/about-Ray-Conniff/SecondsMagazineInterview
- ↑ [4]
- ↑ [5]
- ^ Joseph Lanza: Elevator Music: A Surreal History of Muzak, Easy-Listening, and Other Moodsong , Ann Arbor 2004, p. 104
- ↑ cit. based on Joseph Lanza: Elevator Music: A Surreal History of Muzak, Easy-Listening, and Other Moodsong , Ann Arbor 2004, p. 104
- ↑ http://www.rayconniff.info/about-Ray-Conniff/SecondsMagazineInterview
- ↑ [ https://people.com/archive/conniff-goes-to-moscow-to-cut-a-russian-album-vol-3-no-2/ ]
- ↑ [6]
- ↑ http://www.rayconniff.info/about-Ray-Conniff/SecondsMagazineInterview
- ↑ [7]
- ↑ a b c Chart sources: Singles Albums UK US
- ↑ a b The Billboard album by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 .
Web links
- Ray Conniff at Allmusic (English)
- Ray Conniff at Discogs (English)
- Ray Conniff fan (English )
- Ray Conniff News (English )
- Ray Conniff archive and more (English )
- The Ray Conniff Lyrics Web Page ( Memento dated May 30, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- Obituary in The New York Times
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Conniff, Ray |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Conniff, Joseph Raymond (maiden name); Richards, Jimmy (pseudonym) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American composer, arranger, orchestra conductor and trombonist |
DATE OF BIRTH | November 6, 1916 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Attleboro , Massachusetts , USA |
DATE OF DEATH | October 12, 2002 |
Place of death | Escondido , California , USA |