Ray Bloch
Ray Bloch | |
---|---|
Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire | |
Died | March 29, 1982 Miami, Florida | (aged 79)
Occupation(s) | composer, songwriter, conductor, pianist, and arranger |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
Labels | Signature Records |
Website | raybloch |
Raymond Arthur Bloch (August 3, 1902 – March 29, 1982)[1][2] was an American composer, songwriter, conductor, pianist, author and arranger. He is best remembered as the arranger and orchestra conductor for The Ed Sullivan Show during its entire run from 1948 to 1971.
Biography
Ray Bloch was born in
Career
During the 1920s, he performed with small groups on piano and also conducted ballroom bands.
Radio
Bloch and his orchestra were featured on numerous radio variety shows of the late-1930s and 1940s. These included: Johnny Presents (1939-1946),
The orchestra was a fixture on several game shows, including Take It or Leave It (CBS, 1940–1947).[13] Quick as a Flash (1944–1949) – during which "clues were elaborately dramatized or were musically illustrated by Ray Bloch's orchestra"[14]– and Sing It Again (1948–1951).[15] Bloch also worked on Philip Morris Playhouse (CBS, 1939–1943),[16] and in several Orson Welles drama presentations.[1]
In 1945 Bloch signed an exclusive contract with
Television
Bloch was the arranger and orchestra conductor for The Ed Sullivan Show from the show's debut on June 20, 1948[23] until its final show in June 1971. He also led the orchestra for The Jackie Gleason Show. Each week during his show, Jackie Gleason would introduce Bloch as "the flower of the music world".[1]
When asked for a comment after The Beatles' performance on The Ed Sullivan Show on 9 February 1964 Bloch said, "The only thing that’s different is the hair, as far as I can see. I give them a year."[24]
Other activities
He was on the original board of governors of the
Later years
Bloch retired to Miami. He died of a heart attack there on March 29, 1982.[1] He was buried in Ferncliff Cemetery in Westchester County, New York.[26]
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ray Bloch, Conductor On TV and Radio, 79". The New York Times. Associated Press. 1 April 1982. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 3, Part 5A, Number 1: Published Music. Washington: Copyright Office, The Library of Congress. 1949. p. 379.
- ^ a b c d "Liner notes for Coral CRL 56074". Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ Terrace 1998, p. 179.
- ^ Dunning 1998, p. 280.
- ^ Terrace 1998, p. 105.
- ^ Dunning 1998, p. 180.
- ^ Terrace 1998, p. 229.
- ^ Dunning 1998, p. 460.
- ^ Dunning 1998, p. 441.
- ^ Mackenzie 1999, p. 62.
- ^ Terrace 1998, p. 45.
- ^ Terrace 1998, p. 325.
- ^ Dunning 1998, p. 558.
- ^ Dunning 1998, p. 616.
- ^ Terrace 1998, p. 171.
- ^ "Majestic, Signature Sign Two Leaders". Billboard. Vol. 57, no. 47. 24 November 1945. p. 24. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ a b "Advance Record Releases". 57 (46). 17 November 1945: 28.
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(help) - ^ "Record Reviews: Monica Lewis-Ray Bloch". Billboard. 19 April 1947. p. 131.
- ^ "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. 6 September 1947. p. 30.
- ^ "Popular Record Reviews". Billboard. 7 February 1953. p. 39.
- ^ a b ASCAP 1966.
- ^ "Bloch On Job for 21 Years". Toledo Blade. January 11, 1970. p. 12. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "Historic Hysterics: Witnesses to a Really Big Show". The New York Times. 9 February 2014.
- ^ "About Us". Ray Bloch Productions. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Ray Bloch". Find a Grave. 17 March 1999. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
Sources
- The ASCAP Biographical Dictionary of Composers, Authors and Publishers (3rd ed.). American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. 1966.
- Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. p. 280. ISBN 0199840458.
- Mackenzie, Harry (1999). The Directory of the Armed Forces Radio Service Series. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313308128.
- Terrace, Vincent (1998). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland. ISBN 1476605289.
External links
- Ray Bloch at IMDb