Axel Stordahl
Axel Stordahl | |
---|---|
Encino, California , United States | |
Occupation(s) | Composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator |
Instrument(s) | trumpet |
Years active | late 1930s- 1950s |
Labels | Columbia Records |
Axel Stordahl (August 8, 1913 – August 30, 1963) was an American arranger and composer who was active from the late 1930s through the 1950s.[1] He is perhaps best known for his work with Frank Sinatra in the 1940s at Columbia Records. With his sophisticated orchestrations, Stordahl is credited with helping to bring pop arranging into the modern age.[2]
Early years
Stordahl was born in
Big bands
In 1936, he joined Tommy Dorsey's new orchestra and soon became the band's main arranger.[1] The same year appeared their first big hit, "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You".[4] The tune quickly became Dorsey's theme song. In January 1940, Frank Sinatra joined the group as vocalist, and it became apparent that Stordahl's arrangements were particularly well suited to the singer's voice.[5]
Stordahl and Sinatra
In January 1942, when Sinatra convinced Dorsey to let him record four songs without Dorsey, Stordahl arranged Sinatra's very first commercial solo recordings for the
Stordahl was admired for his skills in framing Sinatra's voice, creating a soft, opulent sound with swirling strings, understated rhythms and woodwinds. He was one of the first American arrangers to tailor his accompaniments to the vocal qualities of a specific singer. When Sinatra moved to Capitol Records in 1953, Stordahl arranged his first recording session there. Afterwards, however, Sinatra worked extensively with Nelson Riddle, who cultivated his jazz-oriented qualities, as well as Gordon Jenkins, Billy May, Don Costa, Neal Hefti, Quincy Jones, and others.
Stordahl went on to work with other singers such as
In 1961, Sinatra returned to collaborate with an ailing Stordahl for his final Capitol concept album, Point of No Return.
Television and radio
Stordahl worked with Eddie Fisher's television program for four years[7] and composed and orchestrated the theme to the popular television comedy series McHale's Navy.[8]
In 1953, Fisher was signed to do a twice-weekly 15-minute program on NBC television with Coca-Cola as sponsor. Audio of the program was recorded and broadcast on a delayed basis on NBC's radio network.[9]
In addition to his work as conductor on Sinatra's radio program,[10] Stordahl conducted the orchestra on Eddie Fisher's Coke Time show[11] and worked on the radio version of Your Hit Parade.[7]
Recording
In addition to providing orchestral accompaniment for recordings of well-known vocalists, Stordahl also conducted orchestras for instrumental-music albums, such as "Dreamtime: The Strings of Stordahl" (1953), "Jasmine & Jade" (1960), and "The Magic Islands Revisited" (1961).
Personal life and honours
Stordahl married singer
In 1967, the Los Angeles chapter of the
Stordahl died August 30, 1963, at the age of 50 of cancer in
Selected compositions
- "I Should Care" (1945)
- "Day by Day" (1946)
- "Ain'tcha Ever Comin' Back" (1947)
- "Night After Night" (1949)
- "Meet Me at the Copa" (1950)
- Gillespie, Dizzy: Dizzy Atmosphere (1946–1952)
- MONK, Thelonious: Monk's Moods (1944–1948)
"McHale's Navy Theme"
Albums
- Christmas in Scandinavia (2012)
- Guitars Around the World! (1962)
- The Magic Islands Revisited (1961)
- Jasmine & Jade (1960)
- The Lure of the Blue Mediterranean (1959)
References
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ "Axel Stordahl Biography - Yahoo! Music". Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ "Axel Stordahl, biography (The encyclopedia of big band, lounge, classic jazz and space-age sounds)". Archived from the original on January 1, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Axel Stordahl- Bio, Albums, Pictures – Naxos Classical Music". Naxos.com.
- ^ "Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra: The Early Years (Michael P. Zirpolo)". Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
- ^ "The Men Behind the Music – Axel Stordahl (The Palomar)". Thepalomar.blogspot.com. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^
- AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ "Stordahl AM-TV Seg for Coca-Cola". Billboard. April 4, 1953. p. 3. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^ "Stordahl Grant Is Set Up by NARAS". Billboard. June 24, 1967. p. 6. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^
External links
- Axel Stordahl at IMDb
- Photograph of Axel Stordahl
- "Classical Music" entry for Axel Stordahl at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- Axel Stordahl at AllMovie