Jack Pleis
Jack Pleis | |
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Jack K. Pleis (May 11, 1917 – December 5, 1990)
Early life and education
Jack Pleis was born in Philadelphia on May 11, 1917. Starting at the age of four, he began his training in classical piano. He first performed in concert when he was seven. By the time he was eleven, he appeared on radio programs for children.[3]
Pleis enrolled in college intending to study medicine. To support his studies, he played piano in jazz and popular music bands. Eventually he left school and moved to New York City, where he began his musical career.[3]
Career
Early days
In New York, Pleis became successful as a pianist, arranger, conductor, and composer. He was one of
London Records
Pleis joined the
In June 1950, Pleis married Eve Young,[23][24] and the March birth of their daughter Michelle was noted in an April 1951 Billboard.[25] The Orchestra backed Eve on her single "Just for Tonight"/"Would I Love You?"[26] In 1952, Pleis and orchestra worked with The Bell Sisters[27] and continued working with Teresa Brewer.[28] Pleis left London Records,[29] and Eve signed a new contract with Coral Records, recording under her new name, Karen Chandler.[30] Her debut for Coral, backed by Pleis' orchestra, was the song "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," and it became an enormous hit. Selling over a million copies, it peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard charts. In 1953, Pleis and orchestra backed her on her third Coral release, "I'd Love to Fall Asleep (And Wake Up in Your Arms)"/"Goodbye, Charlie, Goodbye".[31]
Decca Records
In mid-1953 Pleis joined Decca Records under Milt Gabler.[29] Pleis and Orchestra released "The Eighteenth Variation"/"Mr. Peepers" under the Decca label.[32] The orchestra backed Karen Chandler again on "Why?"/"Flash From the Blue".[33] 1954 saw the release of the orchestra's Decca singles, "Frenchman in St. Louis"/"Pagan in Paris",[34] "Ah Ri Rung",[35] and "For Always"/"Beyond the Blue Horizon",[36] and the orchestra backed the Dinning Sisters on "Steel Guitar Rag",[37] Eileen Barton on "And Then",[38] and Teresa Brewer on her album A Bouquet of Hits.[39]
1955 saw Pleis scheduled to be profiled in the April issue of
In 1956, Pleis and His Orchestra again backed Karen Chandler, this time on her first Decca release,
1957 saw the release of singles "(But As They Say) That's Life"/"Goodnight Waltz",
In 1958, the Orchestra backed Carmen McRae on her album Mad About the Man,[56] as well as Toni Arden[57] and also backed The Four Aces on their album Swingin' Aces.[58] He produced the Kalin Twins' song "When", which spent five weeks at No. 1 on the UK charts.[59]
In 1960, Pleis conducted for The Castilians' album, Valentino Tangos.[60] Pleis and Orchestra backed Sammy Davis Jr. on a dozen tracks for Decca, including "What Kind of Fool Am I?" (which won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1963), "The Lady Is a Tramp", "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues", "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me", "I Got a Woman", "There Is No Greater Love", "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You", "This Little Girl of Mine", "Till Then", and "Mess Around".[61]
Columbia Records
The 1960s brought a move to Columbia Records. In 1961, Pleis and Orchestra backed Brazilian singer Maysa Matarazzo on her album Maysa Sings Songs Before Dawn,[62] he conducted for Billy Butterfield's album, The Golden Horn,[63] and arranged several of the tracks on Lionel Hampton's album, Soft Vibes Soaring Strings.[64] Pleis also produced Les Elgart's album, "It's De-Lovely" For Dancing and Listening,[65] and released an EP, Medley from The Musical "Through The Years", and an LP, Stage Left, Stage Right. In 1963, he conducted for Peter Nero's album, Born Free,[63] and Pleis and Orchestra backed Liza Minnelli on her single, "One Summer Love"/"How Much Do I Love You?".[66]
Film and television scores
Pleis and His Orchestra performed the songs "Strange Feelings" and "The Blues I Got Comin' Tomorrow" for the soundtrack of the 1961 film, Force of Impulse.[67] Pleis composed and conducted the music for the 1964 film, Diary of a Bachelor.[68] He also composed music for the television shows Family Affair (1966), Gunsmoke (1967), The Wild Wild West (1967–1969), and Dusty's Trail (1973–1974).[1]
Later career
Pleis arranged the songs on side one of Johnny Hartman's 1967 album, I Love Everybody, including "If I Had You", "I Cover the Waterfront", and "For Once in My Life".[69]
Under the moniker The Sounds of Our Times, Pleis co-produced and penned two songs for the 1967 easy listening, psychedelic instrumental LP Music of the Flower Children.[70]
Pleis produced several of
In 1976, Pleis put out what would be the last album released under his own name, I Play the Songs the Whole World Sings, on Ranwood Records.[75]
Private life and death
Pleis was married to singer Karen Chandler.[76] He died on December 5, 1990, in Palm Springs, California, at the age of 73.[1]
Charted hits
- "Giant", Billboard Hot 100, #93 (10/20/1956), #91 (12/29/1956)[47]
- "I'll Always Be In Love With You", Billboard Hot 100, #65 (12/08/1956)[48]
- "(But As They Say) That's Life", Billboard Hot 100, #69 (6/17/1957)[55]
Selected discography
Albums
Music from Disneyland
- Jack Pleis and His Orchestra and Chorus (1955). Music from Disneyland (LP). Decca. DL 8105.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " Lavender Blue" ("Dilly, Dilly") | Traditional | 2:44 |
9. | "Melody Time" | George David Weiss/Bennie Benjamin | 2:59 |
10. | "You Belong to My Heart" | Agustín Lara/Ray Gilbert | 3:00 |
11. | "Love Is a Song" | Frank Churchill/Larry Morey | 3:18 |
12. | "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" | Allie Wrubel/Ray Gilbert | 2:21 |
Broadway Goes Hollywood
- Jack Pleis, His Piano, Orchestra and Chorus (1955). Broadway Goes Hollywood (LP). Decca. DL 8167.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " Younger Than Springtime" | Rodgers & Hammerstein | |
11. | "Old Devil Moon" | Burton Lane/Yip Harburg | |
12. | "I Get a Kick Out of You" | Cole Porter |
Strings and Things
- Jack Pleis, His Piano, Chorus and Orchestra (1957). Strings and Things (LP). Decca. DL 8422.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Frenchman In St. Louis" | 3:01 | |
2. | "The Waltz Of Tears" | ||
3. | "For Always" | ||
4. | "Mr. Peepers" | ||
5. | "A Catchy Tune" | ||
6. | "Beyond The Blue Horizon" | Robin/Whiting/Harling | |
7. | "I'll Always Be In Love With You" | ||
8. | "Paris Loves Lovers" | ||
9. | "Theme from The Story of Three Loves, The Eighteenth Variation" | Miklós Rózsa | |
10. | "Todd" | ||
11. | "Strings And Things" | Jack Pleis[77] | |
12. | "Pagan In Paris" | 2:51 |
Serenades to Remember
- Jack Pleis, His Piano and Orchestra (1957). Serenades to Remember (LP). Decca. DL 8586.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " Serenade In Blue" | Harry Warren/Mack Gordon | |
8. | "Twilight Serenade" | Johnny Napton | |
9. | "Sleepy Serenade" | Lou Singer/Mort Greene | |
10. | "Serenata" | Leroy Anderson | |
11. | "Sultry Serenade" | Herbie Mann | |
12. | "Manhattan Serenade" | Louis Alter |
50 Memorable Melodies In Hi-Fi
- Jack Pleis and His Orchestra (1958). 50 Memorable Melodies In Hi-Fi (LP). Decca. DL 8706.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I Love My Baby" (Medley) | |
2. | "Oh! My Pa-Pa" (Medley) | |
3. | "Sweetheart Of All My Dreams" (Medley) | |
4. | "Melody Of Love" (Medley) | |
5. | "Red Sails In The Sunset" (Medley) | |
6. | "Mister Sandman" (Medley) | |
7. | "Drifting And Dreaming" (Medley) | |
8. | "Ole Buttermilk Sky" (Medley) | |
9. | "Tenderly" (Medley) | |
10. | "I'll Walk Alone" (Medley) |
Music for Two Sleepy People
- Jack Pleis and His Orchestra (1958). Music for Two Sleepy People (LP). Decca. DL 8763.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " Hit the Road to Dreamland" | Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer | |
4. | "Land Of Dreams" | ||
5. | "Out Of My Dreams" | ||
6. | "Lullaby In Rhythm" | ||
7. | "I'd Love To Fall Asleep (And Wake Up In Your Arms)" | ||
8. | "I'll Close My Eyes" | Billy Reid | |
9. | "Let's Put Out the Lights (and Go to Sleep)" | Herman Hupfeld | |
10. | "Lights Out" | ||
11. | "And So To Bed" | ||
12. | "Goodnight, Sweet Dreams" |
Medley from The Musical "Through The Years"
- Jack Pleis (1961). Medley from The Musical "Through The Years" (EP). Columbia Records. S7 31371.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Through The Years" | Edward Heyman/Vincent Youmans | |
2. | "You're Everywhere" | Edward Heyman/Vincent Youmans | |
3. | "Drums In My Heart" | Edward Heyman/Vincent Youmans |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "I Married An Angel" | Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers | |
2. | "Did You Ever Get Stung?" | Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers | |
3. | "Spring Is Here" | Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers |
Stage Left, Stage Right
- Jack Pleis (1961). Stage Left, Stage Right (LP). Columbia Records. CL 1662.
I Play the Songs the Whole World Sings
- Jack Pleis (1976). I Play the Songs the Whole World Sings (LP). Ranwood Records. R8161.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "I'll Always Be in Love With You" | Musetta's Waltz" | Giacomo Puccini | 2:20 |
6. | "I Take This Vow" | 2:28 | ||
7. | "Feelings" | Loulou Gasté/Morris Albert | 2:45 | |
8. | "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" | Venna Keith/Ben Peters | 2:40 | |
9. | "Trustful One" | 2:15 | ||
10. | "Be Mine, Be Mine" | Jack Pleis | 3:25 | |
11. | "Tenemos Que Sufrir" | Julio Herrera | 2:25 | |
12. | "I Write the Songs" | Bruce Johnston | 2:50 |
With Jan Savitt & the Top Hatters
- The Top Hatters (1939-1941). Jazz Heritage Series. Decca. 1967.
With the Henri René Orchestra
- RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt (RCA, 1953)
- That Bad Eartha (EP) (RCA, 1954)
- Down To Eartha (RCA, 1955)
- That Bad Eartha (LP) (RCA, 1956)
- Thursday's Child (RCA, 1957)
See also
Notes
- ^ IMDb
- ^ "Carmen McRae Issues". CarmenMcRaeDiscography.com. August 22, 2006. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 9781135917708.
- ^ "Tracks Arranged By: Jack Pleis". 45cat.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ Pleis, Jack (1955). 1955 Decca artist sampler interview LP.
- ^ "Jon Savitt And His Top Hatters". Discogs. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ Popa, Christopher (September 2007). "Jan Savitt: 'The Swing-Happy Years'". Big Band Library.
The tunes recorded in 1941 included a number of classical pieces, such as Prelude to Carmen, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, In the Hall of the Mountain King, and La Cinquantaine, each arranged by Jack Pleis.
- ^ "News Notes". Billboard. February 21, 1942. p. 61.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. July 5, 1947. p. 131.
- ^ "Front cover". Billboard. January 1, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. December 17, 1949. p. 93.
- ^ "The Dixieland All Stars". Discogs. Retrieved May 12, 2017. (Page names D.A.S. members:
Hymie Schertzer, Jack Pleis, Max Kaminsky, Nick Perito, Yank Lawson)
- ^ "TEENAGE SUCCESS ...the 1940s". Teresa Brewer Center. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
- ^ American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (1966). "Pleis, Jack K.: composer, conductor". The ASCAP biographical dictionary of composers, authors and publishers (3rd ed.). New York: Lynn Farnol Group, Inc.
- ^ "Camarata, Lewis Set Up London's New A&R Policy". Billboard. March 4, 1950. p. 15.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. March 18, 1950. p. 117.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. March 25, 1950. p. 34.
- ^ "The Disk Jockeys Pick". Billboard. April 15, 1950. p. 50.
- ^ "Music—As Written". Billboard. May 13, 1950. p. 20.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. September 30, 1950. p. 99.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. November 25, 1950. p. 32.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. August 26, 1950. pp. 33, 94.
- ^ "Lovely Idaho Star Weds Executive Of Music Company". The Salt Lake Tribune. July 30, 1950. p. 20.
- ^ "Music as Written". Billboard. December 2, 1950. p. 14.
- ^ "Music as Written". Billboard. April 28, 1951. p. 18.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. January 27, 1951. p. 31.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. October 4, 1952. p. 44.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. November 1, 1952. p. 38.
- ^ a b "Decca Adds Jack Pleis to A & R Unit". Billboard. June 20, 1953. p. 25.
- AllMusic. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Coral Records advert". Billboard. March 21, 1953. p. 36. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Reviews of this Week's New Records". Billboard. October 3, 1953. p. 28.
- ^ "Popular Record Reviews". Billboard. November 14, 1953. p. 50.
- ^ "Review of this Week's New Records". Billboard. January 23, 1954. p. 24.
- ^ "Music as Written". Billboard. June 5, 1954. p. 20.
- ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. October 16, 1954. p. 34.
- ^ "Popular Record Reviews". Billboard. January 30, 1954. p. 44.
- ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. September 25, 1954. p. 54.
- ^ "Best Selling Popular Albums". Billboard. October 23, 1954. p. 22.
- ^ "Music as Written". Billboard. February 26, 1955. p. 34.
- ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. March 26, 1955. p. 124.
- ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. September 10, 1955. p. 40.
- ^ "Popular Records". Billboard. December 10, 1955. p. 50.
- ^ "Decca Records advert". Billboard. March 17, 1956. p. 45. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Reviews and Ratings of New Popular Albums". Billboard. February 2, 1957. p. 30.
- ISBN 9780634080265.
- ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History: "Giant"". Song-database.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History: "I'll Always Be In Love With You"". Song-database.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ISBN 9780307379894.
- ^ "Reviews and Ratings". Billboard. April 29, 1957. p. 50.
- ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. September 2, 1957. p. 56.
- ^ "Pop Records". Billboard. October 14, 1957. p. 51.
- ^ "Review of New Pop Records". Billboard. February 9, 1957. p. 49.
- ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. March 9, 1957. p. 55.
- ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History: "(But As They Say) That's Life"". Song-database.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Reviews and Ratings of New Popular Albums". Billboard. February 17, 1958. p. 37.
- ^ "Review of New Pop Records". Billboard. April 7, 1958. p. 50.
- ^ "Reviews and Ratings of New Popular Album". Billboard. November 10, 1958. p. 22.
- ISBN 9780857123602.
- ^ "Records". The Deseret News. April 7, 1960. p. 18C.
- ISBN 9780826458049.
- ISBN 9788525043030.
- ^ ISBN 0810826917.
- ^ "Lionel Hampton – Soft Vibes Soaring Strings". Discogs. 1961. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ "Les Elgart - "It's De-Lovely" For Dancing and Listening". Discogs. 1961. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ISBN 9780806526119.
- ^ "Force of Impulse (1961) — Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ISBN 0819603066.
- ISBN 9780810882812.
- ^ The Sounds of Our Times (1967). "Music of the Flower Children" (audio). Capitol Records. Retrieved June 26, 2021 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Jack Jones – A Jack Jones Christmas". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "1970: A Time for Us". Official Jack Jones website. February 20, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Jack Jones – Christmas With Jack Jones". Discogs. 1973. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Vinyl Album: Hugo Montenegro, Colours of Love". 45worlds.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ Callahan, Mike; Edwards, David (November 16, 2003). "Ranwood Album Discography". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
- ^ "Eva Nadauld (KAREN CHANDLER) Pleis Obituary". Los Angeles Daily News. Legacy.com. November 9, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ "Strings and Things". Billboard. February 2, 1957. p. 30.
References
- David Edwards; Mike Callahan; Patrice Eyries; Randy Watts & Tim Neely. "Decca Album Discography, Part 4: Main 12-inch 8000 Series (1949-1960)".
Further reading
- Obituaries
- Billboard (January 5, 1991). "[Obituary]". Billboard. Vol. 103. p. 77.
- International Musician (February 1991). "Jack K. Pleis, noted arranger, composer and pianist, dead at 73". International Musician. 89: 15.
- Variety (December 17, 1990). "[Obituary]". Variety. 341: 70–71.
External links
- Jack Pleis Orchestra Collection at Internet Archive
- Jack Pleis - Discography at 45cat.com
- Jack Pleis at AllMusic
- Jack Pleis & His Orchestra at AllMusic
- Jack Pleis discography at Discogs
- Jack Pleis at IMDb
- Jack Pleis recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.
- Jack Pleis & His Orchestra on iTunes
- Media