16 TONS FORD

In this issu : -, New Releases from CAPITOL • NOVEL IDEA Music Views Title tunes for motion pictures Dec., 1955 Vol. XIII, No. 12 have become a pertinent part of VIC ROWLAND Editor worthy film productions and so Associate Editors: Merrilyn Hammond, it is with television productions Dorothy Lambert. in many cases. However a new trend is start­ GORDON R. FRASER Publisher ing in the music world, that of Published Monthly By having a title tune for a novel. CAPITOL PUBLICATIONS, INC. Recent case of this is Bob Syl­ Sunset and Vine, Hollywood 28, Calif. Printed in U.S.A. vester’s book, "Dream Street.” Subscription $1.00 per year. Willard Robinson created the tune for the book title.

THE COVER ALL FOR PROMOTION There#s a Ford out Hollywood way that was "going like 60" Music publisher Sid Mills last month— really had every­ has discovered it’s no cinch body spinning, and still is for to park a Japanese ricksha that matter. We're with you, Janie Powell of Columbia's gleeful Janet Leigh outside the Brill Building in It was Tennessee Ernie Ford, MGM. We all wish our readers displays plenty of nineteen hun­ New York. whose sm ash hit, "1 6 Tons," a Gay Noel. Janie, your short- dred fifty-sex appeal ushering was really throwing its weight bobbed petticoat is showing!! in a Happy New Year to us all. As part of the promotion around from coast to coast, for his Marquee label tune, qualifying him more as a "The Japanese Farewell Song,” • CASE FOR COLUMBIA Cadillac than a flivver. • SINGING POWER Mills sought a license from In three very fast weeks Alan Case, recent winner on the An original musical is being the city to park the ricksha Ernie's newest platter for Capi­ Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout” created for Tyrone Power for his adjacent to the Brill, only to tol had shifted into ultra-high show, has been signed to a record­ NBC color spectacular on "Pro­ discover the city dads had gear to crash 800,000 in sales. ing contract with Columbia. Alan ducer’s Showcase” scheduled for only made provision to park Somewhat of a record. Some also will bow soon in a Broad­ record, too. Get it and go for next March. Power will sing in autos, trucks, motorcycles, bi­ a spin! Jack Fascinato's fascin­ way musical, "Reuben, Reuben, his starring role in the pro­ cycles, and pushcarts on the ating music gave Ford a push. Reuben.” duction. streets but hadn’t given a Merle Travis wrote it. He's a thought to the oriental trans­ Capitol recording artist, too. • PUENTE TO VICTOR • MERC. TO COL. FOR VIC portation vehicle. Ernie is "wreathed" in smiles RCA Victor has inked Tito Vic Damone, who for the past Mills didn’t discover his on our cover this month. There's Puente and his band, a Latin three years has been a recording dilemma until well after the more of him to see on pages group, to a new contract. Puente artist on the Mercury label, has 6 and 7. Take a sneak-peek. ricksha had been packed and formerly cut for Tico Records, signed a new contract with shipped from Japan. an independent diskery. Columbia Records.

2 3 Lyricist Who Sold 'Among My Souvenirs’ For $50 Still Writing Songs At Age 71 Verse writer Doyle Williams, now 71, has collaborated with Sammy Fain on a new novelty tune titled "The Saw Song,” which has been recorded by Art Mooney. But that’s only the beginning of the story. Williams, in his early days, wrote verse for $5, $7, or $10 fees. One of his biggest sales had netted him $35, so when he was offered $50 from A1 Dubin for a verse titled "Among My Souvenirs,” he sold it on the double. Dubin expected to put the lyrics to music, but after years had passed he hadn’t found time to write the music, he sold it to a song writer named Edgar Leslie for $150. Leslie took time to put the lyrics to notes and came up with the hit it was des­ tined to be. Since this time, however, Doyle Williams has come up with other verses that hit, among them "Peggy O’Neil” and "Cabin in the Pines.” In addition to the verses, one of the titles he is remembered for is "When You Walked Out With Shoes On, I Knew You Were Gone For Good.” That’s the way Matt Weinstock of the Los Angeles Mirror-News relates the yarn.

These Capitol Records artists have come up this month with some bright new Christmas singles that are guaranteed to delight spinners from the very first grooves. Top left is Stan Freberg, who read the book in his hand before recording "The Night Before Christmas" with little 8 year old Babette Bain. Top right photo shows Gordon MacRae at record date Not all admirers of record star M elting ice in their ginger ales where he waxed "(Here's to) A Wonderful Christmas." Bottom photo shows Johnny Ray are bobby soxers. For with their warm personalities at Capitol's hit makers, Les Paul and Mary Ford, whose Yule biscuit is a example, here's Barbara Stanwyck Indianapolis party recently were novel arrangement of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" which is coupled at John's opening night at Ciro's. Cap's Tennessee Ernie, Nat Cole. with "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." You will enjoy all three disks.

4 5 A PHOTO STORY OF "MR. 16 TONS" "TENNESSEE" ERNIE FORD

hT'HE HEFTY VOICE behind Capitol’s 6. Ernie’s NBC-TV cast -*• smash record success of "16 Tons” includes, left to right, mu­ belongs to Tennessee Ernie Ford. What sical director Jack Eascinato, with record dates, five TV and five singer Doris Drew, who also radio shows each week, he’s a busy guy. appears on his CBS Radio Here we see him at work and in some of show; "Mr. '16 Tons’ ” him­ his more leisure moments. self, singer Molly Bee, an­ 1. Ernie the hunter bags a big one in nouncer-singer Skip Farrell. Utah. 7. Ernie at home with 2. Ernie with his Production Coor­ the family, wife Betty and dinator, Red Loakes. sons Jeff and Brion. 3. Ernie with his two boys, Brion 8. Ernie with his mother Leonard, 2, and Jeffrey Buckner, 5, in and dad, Mr. and Mrs. T. the family swimming pool. C. Ford, of Bristol, Tenn. 4. Ernie clowning it up on his NBC- 9. Ernie with the Cheer­ TV show with his manager, Cliffie Stone, leaders, who appear regu­ who’s also a Capitol recording artist. larly on his CBS Radio 5. Ernie at a Capitol record session, show. Billy Liebert at piano. cutting "16 Tons,” in Hollywood. Ernie has bought 500 acres near Clear Lake, Calif., 90 miles north of Sacra­ mento, where he expects to retire some day as a work­ ing rancher. On the ranch he has $13,000 worth of farm machinery and 10 head of Hereford cattle.

6 • W O RD S FOR J. G. • SKIER ON WAX which he and Dr. Edward E. DAVY'S FIDDLE Ronk purchased from Wyott Jackie Gleason, Capitol Re­ Europe’s champion skier, Van Ordung. Now Davy Crockett’s fid­ cords’ top selling album artist, Hall, glides into the record in­ dle gets into the act! has penned the music to four dustry with an album of yodeling Davy’s own authenticated CBS-TV shows but has called in songs for the Marquis label. The • COAST TOUR a flock of writers to write lyrics fiddle, the property of the first release will contain eight Jazz International, sponsored to his melodies. Witte Memorial Museum in songs. by Howard Lucraft and Capitol’s San Antonio, Tex., was used He has written theme music Hall, in addition to being a Stan Kenton, toured the Coast by Western singing star Red for his "Honeymooners” series, singer, yodeler, and skier also is last month in a concert series, River Dave to record his new for the Dorsey Brothers "Stage an actor. He expects to make the accompanied by the Lester Horton song, "When Davy Crockett Show,” and a recent "Studio One” film "White Fury” in the Alps Dancers, including Lelia Goldoni, Met the San Antonio Rose.” show in which he was starred, soon. This is a story about his Don Martin, Yvonne DeLaval- Dave (last name McEnery), and a special one-time show in own life during World War II, lade, and James Truitte. who stars on WOAI-TV San which he is to appear on CBS-TV. Antonio in "Red River Dave’s Lyric to "H o n e y m o o n e rs” Barn Dance”, is nationally theme was written by Bill Tem­ known as a composer and re­ pleton and is titled "You’re My cording artist. Greatest Love.” Words to "This He accompanied himself on Is a Wonderful Night,” theme for the Crockett museum piece "Stage Show,” were written by while recording his new song Lyn Duddy and Jarry Besler, and at the T.N.T. studios in San Sammy Gallop added the lyrics Antonio, while armed guards to the "Studio One” melody, detailed to act as custodians "Good Night, Sweet Nightingale.” stood by. Duke Enston has written the The song is based on his­ words to "Melancholy Serenade,” torical fact— the dance held theme music for the spectacular in front of the Alamo prior stanza. Gleason’s Songsmiths firm to the arrival of Gen. Santa will publish all the songs. Anna’s troops. • BRANCHING OUT A coin operated amusement • NEW ONE FOR KIDS machine operator, the Bally Man­ Newly signed to Decca label ufacturing company of Chicago, to record juvenile records is is branching over into the record Charity Bailey. She conducts a business with its first waxing to weekly TV show on a New York be released in January on the has a favorite record. His happens to be Jackie Gleason 's Capitol cut station. of "Melancholy Serenade." So what did his 64-year-old grandmother do? Bally label. In five weeks made him a crocheted six foot rug replica of the record.

9 -Music For Fingernail Biting- NORMAN LEYDEN COMPOSES 'COLD SWEAT' MUSIC FOR 'THE $64,000 QUESTION' Setting an appropriate musi- thinking, different fanfares for cal accompaniment to modern each correct answer, and, most history’s greatest orgy of mass important of all, what we call fingernail biting is the un­ 'cold sweat’ music, which we usual job of a relaxed and play during those thirty sec­ p h ilo so p h ic ex-Y ale man onds that contestants ate given named Norman Leyden. before answering the big mon­ As the musical director of ey questions.” television’s super quiz pro­ According to Leyden, "cold gram, "The $64,000 Ques­ sweat music” is specifically tion,” Leyden each week com­ designed to heighten audience poses, arranges and conducts tension, but it has an unset­ a series of musical "gimmicks” tling effect on the contestants well calculated to keep an es­ as well. "Not on Gloria Lock- timated audience of 50,000,- erman, though.” 000 in suspense. Leyden was referring to the Leyden took time out the 12 year old Baltimore girl other day while visiting the who blithely spelled away offices of Broadcast Music, $16,000 of the sponsor’s mon­ Inc. to let us in on the secrets ey a few weeks ago. "That kid of creating high-tension mu- (Continued on next page)

the young BMI composer, "is to punctuate each bit of ‘busi­ ness’ on the show, and to fill with sound the lulls in visual action. ^ JST jA y ' "When the contestant walks jS p k J on, we have 'play-on’ music; In a gay yearend holiday mood are these popular stars of Hollywood's when the IBM machine is SP ^W !> ' d k motion picture studios. Upper left: MGM's Ann Blyth, complete with a sorting and punching out the sprig of poinsettia. Upper right: MGM's Mr. and Mrs. Vic Damone (she's questions, we play ’sorting and 'm JÊ Ê Ê r - Pier Angeli) complete with sign. Lower left: Warner Brothers' Liberace punching’ music. Then there’s and Joanne Dru, complete with Christmas packages. Lower right: Colum­ ’play-off’ music, music for Norman Leyden, Steve Carlin bia's Cleo Moore, complete with Santa Claus (and packages). Miss Blyth sings, Damone sings, Liberace plays piano, Miss Moore . . . oh, who cares?

10 II • TONY MAKES IT 7 NORMAN LEYDEN COMPOSES 'COLD SWEAT' For the seventh successive year MUSIC FOR 'THE $64,000 QUESTION' Tony Martin will headline the (Continued from preceding page) Christmas show at the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas. This will be didn’t behave according to the band. After the war Leyden one of the first among several rules. She knew the answer wrote arrangements for Tex immediately and just stood Beneke and then worked for month-long night club engage­ ments scheduled. there whiling away her thirty Mitch Miller at Columbia seconds, snapping her fingers Records. He will be in Vegas over the and beating time to the Curious about whether any holidays, then move on to the music.” mysterious or special musical Fontainebleau, Miami, in Febru­ Norm Leyden’s only pre­ devices are used to keep many ary. In March, Tony will go to vious experience with dispens­ millions of people simultane­ the Chez Paree in Chicago for ing suspense via music took ously nervous, we asked Mr. his seventh year. He will appear place a few years ago when he Leyden to divulge some of for the first time in five years was making children’s records the tricks of his trade. at New York’s Copacabana in under the supervision of Steve May. Carlin, then in charge of kid­ "It’s all very simple,” he About only thing musical we can die recordings for RCA Victor told us. "All the music on the say about this photo of Ann Rob­ and now executive producer show stems from the happy inson is that Warner studio was of "The $64,000 Question.” little jingle we use for the "instrum ental" getting it to us. Before that, Leyden did a commercial. As we go along, great deal of arranging and though, it gets less happy. • M U SIC AL '1 NIGHT' conducting for top recording You’d be surprised how much of an eerie atmosphere you June Allyson and Jack Lem­ artists, and some radio and mon have pre-recorded the eight TV work of a similar nature. can get by simply changing from a major to a minor key tunes written by Johnny Mercer Born in Pleasantville, New and distorting the tune har­ and Gene de Paul for Columbia York, 38 years ago, he studied monically.” Pictures’ musical version of the music at Yale University, from comedy hit, "It Happened .One which he went into the army Some of the other suspense- Night.” They worked with a 36- to be "discovered” by Glenn creating effects used, Mr. Ley­ piece orchestra conducted by Mor­ Miller. Miller recommended den informed us, have to do ris Stoloff. Producer-director is him for the job of conductor with instrumentation. It seems Dick Powell. of the Air Force show "Wing­ that muted brass and combina­ tions like a piccolo, harp and ed Victory,” and later took • HUGO SCORES Leyden overseas as arranger xylophone help to create a In a rare idle moment, Capitol's Les Baxter is seen relaxing at Hugo Winterhalter will score for the famous Glenn Miller ( Concluded on page 30) his home. His newest ear-catcher and conduct "Around the World wax is "The Trouble with Harry.1' in 8 Days” for Michael Todd. 12 13 • 1ST PIC FOR DEVOL Introducing on Capitol------ALWAYS PREPARED As his first assignment at George Russell, Mercury Paramount as a composer-con­ HELEN FORREST Records promotion man, re­ ductor, Frank De Vol has been Helen Forrest, who has ist. She had enjoyed the rise cently promoted himself an­ assigned to score the Dean Mar­ signed a term contract with to and peak of success with other job, temporary type. tin-Jerry Lewis comedy, "Pard- Capitol Records, has an un­ three great bands: Artie Shaw, Russell, a well-known gui­ ners.” Both De Vol and Martin usual talent to follow through Benny Goodman and Harry tarist who carries his instru­ record for Capitol. on her hunches. She attributes James. ment with him on nearly all her achievements to her lack At 15, Helen joined her occasions, dropped in to catch • TITLE SO N G of fear at taking a chance. brother’s band, when they a Ralph Marterie record date Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van She was a $200 a week were playing a small club that in Hollywood. The bandleader Heusen have written the title vocalist with the Harry James featured a struggling comic decided to feature a guitar on song for Otto Preminger’s "Man band when she took the risk by the name of Red Skelton. his "Maybelline” and "Toy With the Golden Arm,” a United of playing a solo spot at the It was when she moved with Tiger” etchings but found Artists release starring Capitol’s Orpheum theater in Los An­ her family, from her birth­ himself without a man for Frank Sinatra. Sinatra does not geles. When she accepted this place of Atlantic City, to the job. In a flash Russell was sing in the film. booking she didn’t know that Brooklyn that Helen got her pressed into service. The gui­ in two weeks she’d be playing first radio chance. For two tar was in his car. an engagement at New York’s years she sang commercials. Roxy theater for $3,000 a Then for CBS, Mark Warnow • DISNEY ADDS WAX week. presented Helen Forrest as Walt Disney has entered the Up to this time Helen had Bonnie Blue on the Blue Vel­ recording field with a label of been primarily a band vocal­ vet Show. his own, Disneyland Records. After a siege of blue tones His first package is a 45 rpm Helen accepted a two week album featuring four songs from stint at the Madrillion, Wash­ his television shows over ABC- ington, D.C. which was ex­ TV and is called "Player Piano tended two years. From this Music” from the Wonderland she went from one big name Music Store at the Disneyland band to another until she, amusement park, near Anaheim, with Harry James and his Calif. famous trumpet made history • 3 JAZZ SIGNEES with some great tunes. Helen vocalized for James again re­ The jazz department of RCA cently when they recorded Victor has signed three new ar­ With these gentlemen it's merely some nostalgic tunes incor­ tists: Conte Candoli, Lou Levy, a question of Bob Hammock and his porated in the Capitol album, and Jack Montrose. All are West What Four. The answer is simple "Harry James in Hi-Fi.” Coast jazz men. as ABC, whose radio air they use.

14 IS #.-Ttr -V I

the motion pic- i High Fidelity, c of America's stage produc- the film’s bril- stars ! NO. 595 THE CHRISTMAS SONG MERRY CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS BELLS Nat Cole TO YOU! Top pop artists Richard Keys Biggs Nat captures the yule perform a rich variety of A rich assortment of tradi­ mood with the nostalgic holiday songs that say tional carols, magnificently Christmas Song which he Merry Christmas in the performed on the organ by made famous, and three nicest possible way. masterful organist Richard other popular holiday NO. 9028 Keys Biggs. NO. 9013 tunes. NO. 9026 SONGS OF CHRISTMAS Jo Stafford & Gordon MacRae Album No. EAP 1-9021 BOYS TOWN CHOIR SINGING CHRISTMAS CAROLS HARRY JAMES IN HI-FI Album No. 9006 In brilliant High Fidelity, and 'A i CHRISTMAS CAROLS exciting than ever, the Music St. Luke’s Choristers ers, with memorable tunes of Album No. 9000 great 15-year history, reji today by popular vocalist I ORGAN PLAYS AT CHRISTMAS 654 Buddy Cole CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR! CHRISTMAS CHEER! Album No. 9002 Voices of Walter Schumann Les Paul and Mary Ford Album No. 9016 Album No. EAP 1-543 YINGLE BELLS Yogi Yorgesson Album No. EAP 1-461

THE KENTON ERA ipsmmEWO A memorable Christmas gift! , 'A documentary of music by Stan Ke'nton from 1940 to the present. Records of S*. concerts, rehearsals, inscriptions, and t |\SL IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS ùnreleased masters, accompanied .by a The nation's favorite male vocalist commentary dramatizing in pictures and k o h l « Ml tops even his finest former per­ anecdotes the-events and artists of the formances singing an array of Kenton Era. NO. 569 poignant ballads. NO. 581 • DINAH IN PARADE • '$64,000 JAZZ' Singing star Dinah Shore has "The $64,000 Question” has been unanimously chosen to act inspired a new recording, "$64,- as the official representative of 000 Jazz,” a primer for music- the entertainment industry and minded would-be contestants on to ride a beautiful floral float the program. especially designed for the occa­ The album developed by sion in the gigantic 1956 Tourna­ George Avakian, for Columbia ment of Roses Parade at Pasa­ Records, after producers of the dena on New Years Day, Sunday, "$64,000 Question” had asked Jan. 1. Mr. Avakian to aid in preparation of jazz questions for the program. The float, spotlighting the vi­ vacious first lady of song, will "$64,000 Jazz” presents a depict "Music Through The Ages’’ dozen jazz immortals in classic with the historical chain of sig­ performances tracing the develop­ nificant phases worked out in ment of this American art form. colorful floral arrangements. The selections in the album il­ lustrate the panoramic knowledge Obviously earning her stripes as Smoking "Slow, Smooth and Easy" Both the Tournament of Roses needed to answer correctly the from the title of her first disk an actress at Warner studios is Parade and the annual Rose Bowl program’s jazz category questions. Elizabeth Montgomery, daughter of for Capitol while the band "takes football classic will be telecast screen-TV star, Robt. Montgomery. five" is barefooted Anita Tucker. in color and black and white on NBC-TV. REVERSE TWIST New York radio station WMGM has come up with a IT'S HIS LABEL, SO . . . reverse twist on the old record It’s the boss’ label so he’ll request gimmick. sing on it. The plan calls for listeners So it is with Archie Bleyer, to send to emcee Ed Stokes formerly one of Arthur God­ a list of disks they don’t want frey’s "Friends,” and now ar­ to hear, which will guide the tists and repertoire chief of station’s future programming. Cadence Records. The disk- Two or three negative requests ery’s exec turns crooner for on a record, of course, may the first time on a tune titled not be enough to kill it but Red Nichols looks lamentable at "Nothin’ to Do.” Is that a if said tune racks up numer­ Julie Kinsler's "Frantic Flute" Extended Play (45 rpm) album is Capitol session where he waxed good reason for becoming a ous anti-play requests, it will on release nationally now on Cap­ "Bugler's Lament." On other side vocalist? be dead on the station. itol label. Here's Julie on pipe. is a dilly called "Glory, Glory."

18 1» LOUVIN BROTHERS FREDDIE HART Current Recording: FARON YOUNG "TEXAS" BILL STRENGTH Current Recording: "I Don’t Believe You’e Met Current Recording: Current Recording: ”Hiding In the Darkness” My Baby’’ — "In the Middle "It’s a Great Life” — - "F or the "When Love Comes Knockin’ "That’s What You Gave to Mee” of Nowhere” Love of a Woman Like You” "Turn Around”

THESE ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE COUNTRY-WESTERN RECORDING ARTISTS

JERRY REED SONNY JAMES TOMMY COLLINS HANK THOMPSON Current Recording: Current Recording: Current Recording: Current Recording: "Here I Am” — "If the Good "Pigtails and Ribbons’’ "I’ll Be Gone” — "I Love You "Honey, Honey Bee Ball” Lord’s Willing and the Creeks "Careless with My Heart” More and More Each Day” "Don’t Take It Out On Me” Don’t Rise” 20 21 • GLEASON FEATURE Positive Thinking Gets Results Scheduled to be shot early next year is Jackie Gleason’s first fea­ THAT'S WHAT GORDON MAC RAE WILL TELL YOU ture motion picture since becom­ ( EDITOR'S NOTE: Entertainment Editor Dick Williams of the ing a big-time TV comic. The Los Angeles Mirror-News snagged a Gordon MacRae interview film is tentatively titled "Uncle worthy of passing along. With Williams’ permission we do so.) Ed and Circumstance,” the Frank There really must be something to the theory that positive Gilroy script seen on CBS-TV's thinking gets results. "Studio One” a few weeks ago. Gordon MacRae is startling proof of the adage. Recently Gleason turned down For years Gordy had his heart set on playing the role of the lead in the Elia Kazan pro­ impulsive, dashing Billy Bigelow, hero of the Rodgers and duction of "The Arkansas Travel­ Hammerstein stage musical, "Carousel,” when it reached the er” because he didn’t feel the role screen. was right for him. He talked about it constantly. He sang the tendor "Soliloquy” from the "Carousel” score as the feature number on his night­ club act. He performed the part in the special production staged DOUBLE TROUBLE at the Dallas State Fair last summer. Caterina Valente, the Ger­ But when 20th Century-Fox announced the casting of man girl whose records have the role for its $5,000,000 movie version of "Carousel,” been winding up as big hits, filming this fall, it wasn’t Gordon MacRae. It was Frank dubbed for Zsa Zsa Gabor in Sinatra. singing sequences of the two "Who Am I Foolin’?" queries this For 999 out of 1000 persons that would have been the end German films she’s just fin­ Detroit oriole on the topside of of all hopes for that part. But not MacRae. ished in Europe. her newest Capitol release. She’s "I never stopped believing that I would play the role, even The "secret” leaked when Bunny Paul whose style’s catching. after Frank was set, and reported for work.” Zsa Zsa heard Caterina’s voice MacRae was so resolute that he didn’t shave off the long during a session of "Juke Box • FISHER FOR FORD sideburns which he grew for the role in the Dallas stage version. Jury.” "That’s me,” she im­ He wore the sideburns on a Tahoe fishing vacation. pulsively informed Peter Pot­ Eddie Fisher will star in ”1 ter, and the millions of CBS Hear America Singing,” replacing And it was to a lakeside lodge that the fateful long-distance Radio listeners who overheard. Bing Crosby who was originally telephone call came, first from his agent, then from Oscar The rest of the beans were slated for the role, in the "Star Hammerstein. They told him that Sinatra had walked out on spilled when Pete asked for Jubilee” production to be screened the role and they wanted Gordon to replace him. an explanation. by CBS-TV Dec. 17. The 90- This isn’t the first time that Frank Sinatra has played a The Jury promised Miss minute production will be tele­ significant role in changing the course of Gordon MacRae’s Gabor they’d never tell a soul cast in color and black and white career. when the pictures are released. from Television City in Holly­ (Continued on next page) wood.

22 23 • COLE'S BIOFILM "The Nat 'King’ Cole Story,” OUT OF THE M O UTHS OF BABES ... TEETH! a film biography of the best­ A church congregation in Me That Old-Time Religion.” selling Capitol artist, will be re­ Memphis, Tenn. was sere­ Older sister Mary, 9, at­ leased to the nation’s theaters naded recently by two-year-old tempted to quiet the Crockett during Christmas week by Uni­ Patricia Ann Fields. When the fan by putting her hand over versal-International. The Cinema­ choir leader said "Let’s all her mouth. scope production is narrated by sing,” Patricia Ann’s high movie star Jeff Chandler. p itch ed voice rang out, Patricia Ann expressed her "Davee, Davee Crockett,” appreciation by biting sister • LEVY TO VICTOR while the others sang "Give Mary’s palm. To be billed as "The Gray Fox” will be Lou Levy, Coast jazz pianist, who has been inked • HITS-THEN & NOW to a new RCA Victor contract. Ted Lewis, who has done his level best to make everybody happy during his 40 years as an entertainer, frankly doesn’t "dig” POSITIVE THINKING GETS RESULTS today’s disk business and its re­ (Continued from preceding page) cords that are generally believed He really is responsible for starting it, in the first place. to be "hits” if they sell 200,000 And strangely that also was an instance in which Sinatra drop­ copies. ped out of a show and MacRae replaced him. Commenting on this in Var­ It happened in 1942. Frankie was riding the crest in iety, the top hat and cane per­ his first hit as the new crooner sensation. former said, "In the old days, Among his chores was a singing stint on a Sunday afternoon when there was a smaller market CBS radio sustaining program called "Reflections.” Frank got and there were no disk jockeys, sick and CBS rushed MacRae, then singing with the Ray Bloch it was nothing for us to sell Chorus, into the breach. 1,000,000 records in a month.” Gordy did such a good replacement job that CBS signed him He estimated that 5 million to a contract. It was MacRae’s first boost toward the big time of his disks have been sold and led, after the war, to his first Hollywood movie contract through the years. Among the at Warner Bros. tunes that boosted the selling fig­ MacRae feels that singers all owe Frankie a debt of gratitude. ure largely are "St. Louis Blues” "He started the modern vogue for singers back in the and "My Baby Smiles At Me.” Cutie Joni. Last name's James and 40s. About the only big one around until he came along These have been recorded as for MGM waxworks she's etched a was Bing Crosby.” many as three or four times, nice wish, ''Have Yourself a Merry Lewis said. Little Christmas.” Hoping you do.

24 25 fo r the re c o rd

Definitely not a rhythm and blues An Hawaiian-flavored mood comes "(Love Is) The Tender Trap," The Four Freshmen should be grad­ record is Dakota Staton's newest through in Dean Martin's newest title song from his new movie, uated for their new winning pair for Capitol, "It Feels So Nice." disk for Capitol, "Memories Are is Frank Sinatra's newest single on Capitol, "Charmaine" backed Backside tune: "A Dangerous Age." Made of This." Stabile ork backs. platter in the Capitol grooves. by "In This Whole Wide World."

All puckered up as if he were ready to kiss "Suzette," his new single Intriguing violins, piano rhythms, muted trombones and voices team up for Nelson Riddle's new entrancing melody from Spain, "Lisbon Antigua." on Capitol, is Magnificent Maestro May, whom his friends call Billy. Flip the pancake and you'll hear "Robin Hood," title song from the new As you may have guessed, it was written in France. The Maytimers sing TV program. Here is Riddle arranging the songs at home, near Hollywood. it. Meanwhile, backside, the Encores offer lyrics to "Street of Dreams." 27 26 The instrumental quartet of the This gentleman should look happy. drummer above, Frankie Carlson, He's Lou Busch and his first big backs the Four Knights on their orchestra release on Capitol is current Capitol release of "You." happy and up-tempoed "Zambezi." A pair of queens from the famous Alberghetti family, sisters Carla • LYMAN'S BIOPIC (top) and Anna Marie, will appear CHANGING TIMES • SMALL FRY SIGNED "Street of Dreams,” one of the in Yule Day video show on NBC. The concert of the Phil­ A pair of young ’uns were songs made famous by crooner harmonic orchestra of London signed to recording contracts re­ Tommy Lyman will be the title in New York recently pre­ cently. • TWO 'X' ADDITIONS of a new musical, now being sented an unusual picture: a scripted, for film. The story will King Records has inked eight- Judy Holiday and Prophet top Soviet artist appearing in be of Lyman’s life from the year-old Joe Ward, while MGM James J. Jones have been added the United States as a soloist 1920’s to now. has signed up six-year-old Barry to the roster of Label X artists. with a British symphony un­ Gordon. Both moppets were re­ Miss Holiday is stage-screen star; Lyman, who began his career der an American conductor cruited from television, Ward Jones is a Detroit preacher who in the mobster era is vocalizing who was a top figure in Nazi from "Juvenile Jury,” Gordon will etch spirituals and sermons for high society at A1 White’s Germany. from "Star Time Kids.” for the label. Southampton Club.

28 29 NORMAN LEYDEN AND '$64,000 QUESTION' variety of delightfully unset­ tling sensations. "And of course,” said Ley­ den, "there’s always monot­ ony. In fact, you can always count on monotony for build­ ing tension. Ravel’s ’Bolero’ is the best example of that. On the show we often use the ticking of a clock or the sound of a heartbeat to give us the suspense we need.” Since no rehearsals are held with the contestants, a good deal of Norm Leyden’s job depends on his own split- second decisions. Working Carol Richards has parted company from a master cue-sheet, he with Decca to join RCA Victor. and the eleven musicians in In movies she's dubbed for Joan the studio orchestra are kept Caulfield, Cyd Charisse, others. constantly on their toes. HARE'S A TALE Recently a Rumford, Me., deejay received a call from a listener who requested : "My brother’s rabbit died so would you play an appropriate song because he feels bad.” Confused but willing to be cooperative the disk jockey dropped the pickup into the Dick Duane, 24-year-old Beverly lead-in groove of Stan Fre- Hills, Calif.-born singer, signs berg’s Capitol recording of five year Ampar Records contract "The Lone Psychiatrist.” with the label's prexy, Sam Clark.

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Newly signed to rock 'n roll around the Capitol grooves are the Jodimars. Their first hard-driving, exciting sides for the label are "Let's AM Rock Together" coupled with "Well Now, Dig This," with vocal by Dick Richards on both sides. The boys are, left to right: Bob Simpson, piano; Jim Buffington, drums; Charles Hess, guitar; Joe Am brose, tenor sax; Dick Richards, vocalist-drummer, and Marshall Lytel, vocalist and bass player.