Meco (musician)

Meco (born November 29, 1939 in Johnsonburg , Pennsylvania ; real name Domenico Monardo ) is an American music producer and trombonist . He became famous in the late 1970s with disco versions of film scores. His most successful single was the number one hit Star Wars Theme / Cantina band , which on the soundtrack to the movie Star Wars was based.

Life

Meco was born in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania in 1939. His father gave him the first lessons on the trumpet. Because of the skills he acquired, he joined his high school's school band in sixth grade . He later formed his own Dixieland formation and after graduating from school in 1957, he won a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music . While serving at the United States Military Academy at West Point , he played in the cadet band and learned the basics of arranging from an Army sergeant . After completing his military service, Meco moved to New York City , where he became a member of Kai Winding's wind ensemble on the recommendation of his friend Chuck Mangione . After around nine years as a musician, he first acted as a music producer for disco music in 1974 . After about ten more years in the music business, he retired into private life in 1985. At times he worked as a sales representative in Florida .

Musical work

His best-known work is probably his disco version of the Star Wars theme from his album Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk , both the album and the single went platinum in the USA , the single reached number 1 on October 1, 1977 the Billboard Hot 100. Other disco hits include: Themes from The Wizard of Oz : Over the Rainbow / We're Off to See the Wizard (1978), Star Trek Medley (1979), and Love Theme from Superman (1979). His last chart hit on the Billboard Hot 100 was in 1983 with Ewok Celebration , which was based on the music for The Return of the Jedi .

In the 1970s, Meco also made a living arranging production music . One of his most famous assignments was the music for a commercial with Neil Diamond for Coca-Cola . He was also involved in the sound recordings of successful pieces such as Never Can Say Goodbye by Gloria Gaynor (1974) or Doctor's Orders by Carol Douglas as a producer or co-producer.

Discography

Albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)			Remarks
		UK	US	R&B
1977	Star Wars & Other Galactic Funk Millennium 8001	-	US13 platinum (28 weeks)US	R&B8 (15 weeks) R&B	First published: July 1977 Producers: Meco Monardo, Tony Bongiovi , Harold Wheeler
1978	Encounters of Every Kind Millennium 8004	-	US62 (13 weeks) US	R&B35 (6 weeks) R&B	First published: January 1978 Producers: Meco Monardo, Tony Bongiovi, Harold Wheeler
	The Wizard of Oz Millennium 8009	-	US68 (12 weeks) US	R&B49 (5 weeks) R&B	First published: September 1978 Producers: Meco Monardo, Tony Bongiovi, Harold Wheeler
1980	Plays Music from "The Empire Strikes Back" RSO 3086	-	US140 (8 weeks) US	-	First published: July 1980 Music for the film The Empire Strikes Back Drums: Steve Gadd Producers: Meco Monardo, Tony Bongiovi, Lance Quinn
	Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album RSO 3093	-	US61 (6 weeks) US	-	First published: November 1980 Producers: Meco Monardo, Tony Bongiovi, Lance Quinn
1982	Pop Goes the Movies Arista 9598	-	US68 (9 weeks) US	-	First published: March 1982 Producers: Meco Monardo, Tony Bongiovi, Lance Quinn

More albums

• 1979: Superman and Other Galactic Heroes ( Casablanca 7136)
• 1979: Moondancer (Casablanca 7155)
• 1980: Music from Star Trek and the Black Hole (Casablanca 7196)
• 1981: Impressions of an American Werewolf in London (Casablanca 7260)
• 1982: Swingtime's Greatest Hits (Arista 9605)
• 1983: Ewok Celebration (Arista 8-8098)
• 1983: Hooked on Instrumentals ( K-tel 3273)

Compilations

• 1980: Across the Galaxy ( RCA 43242)
• 1997: The Best of Meco (Mercury 53255)
• 2000: Dance Your Asteroids Off: The Complete Star Wars Collection (Mecoman 121599)
• 2005: Music Inspired by Star Wars (DM 41388)
• 2010: Meco Presents Camouflage / Showdown (with Camouflage and Showdown ; Funky Town Grooves 202; release: January)

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)				Remarks
		UK	US	R&B	Dance
1977	Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band Star Wars & Other Galactic Funk	UK7 (9 weeks) UK	US1 platinum (20 weeks)US	R&B8 (15 weeks) R&B	Dance6 (17 weeks) Dance	First published: July 1977 Author: John Williams
1978	Theme from Close Encounters Encounters of Every Kind	-	US25 (10 weeks) US	R&B76 (5 weeks) R&B	Dance33 (3 weeks) Dance	First published: December 1977 inspired by Close Encounters of the Third Kind Author: John Williams
	Themes from the Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz	-	US35 (10 weeks) US	-	Dance35 (4 weeks) Dance	First publication: August 1978 Authors: Harold Arlen , EY Harburg
1980	Empire Strikes Back (Medley) Plays Music from "The Empire Strikes Back"	-	US18 (14 weeks) US	-	-	First published: June 1980 incl. Darth Vader and Yoda's Theme Author: John Williams
	Love Theme from Shogun (Mariko's Theme)	-	US70 (4 weeks) US	-	-	First published: September 1980 Music from the TV series Shogun Author: Maurice Jarre
	What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?) Star Wars Christmas Album	-	US69 (6 weeks) US	-	-	First published: July 1981 Author: Maury Yeston
1982	Pop Goes the Movies (Part 1) Pop Goes the Movies	-	US35 (11 weeks) US	-	-	First release: February 1982 Medley of theme music from various films
1983	Ewok Celebration Ewok Celebration	-	US60 (8 weeks) US	-	-	First published: June 1983 Author: John Williams

More singles

• 1977: Topsy
• 1979: Main Title Theme from Superman (Release: February)
• 1979: Devil Delight (release: July)
• 1980: Theme from Star Trek (February release)
• 1981: The Raiders March (from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark ; release: July)
• 1981: Blue Moon (release: August)
• 1982: Big Band Medley (release: May)
• 1983: Star Wars Title Theme
• 1983: Sleigh Ride ( feat.R2D2 and C3PO ; release: May)
• 1984: Anything Goes

literature

• Fred Bronson: The Billboard Book of Number One Hits . Updated and Expanded 5th Edition. Billboard Books, New York 2008, ISBN 978-0-8230-7677-2 , pp. 474 .

swell

1. ↑ ^{a b} Chart sources: UK Billboard Hot 100 Billboard 200
2. ↑ ^{a b} gold / platinum database US
3. ^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9
4. ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot R&B Songs 1942–2010: 6th Edition, ISBN 978-0-89820-186-4
5. ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot Dance / Disco 1974-2003, ISBN 978-0-89820-156-7

Web links

• Meco Monardo at Allmusic (English)
• Meco Monardo at Discogs (English)
• Meco Monardo at 45cat.com