Jack Pleis

Jack Pleis

Pleis, on the back cover of
Strings and Things (1957)
Background information
Born (1917-05-11)May 11, 1917[1]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died December 5, 1990(1990-12-05) (aged 73)
Palm Springs, California, USA
Genres Jazz, easy listening
Occupation(s) Pianist, arranger, conductor, composer, producer
Instruments Piano
Years active 1939–1976
Labels London Records
Decca Records
Columbia Records
Associated acts Jan Savitt & the Top Hatters, Jack Pleis Trio, Jack Pleis and His Orchestra, Eartha Kitt, Carmen McRae,[2] Henri René

Jack K. Pleis (May 11, 1917 – December 5, 1990[1]) was an American jazz pianist, arranger, conductor, composer and producer. He recorded on London and Decca Records in the 1950s, and Columbia Records in the 1960s. During the course of his career, Pleis worked with many artists, including Louis Armstrong, Harry Belafonte, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Benny Goodman, Earl Grant, Brenda Lee, and Joe Williams.[3] Between 1950 and 1976, over 150 songs were arranged by Pleis.[4]

Early life and education

Jack Pleis was born in Philadelphia on May 11, 1917. Starting at age 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 Jan Savitt's Top Hatters,[5] playing piano and doing arrangements,[6] a position he left in 1942 to enlist in the Army during World War II.[7] In 1947, the Jack Pleis Trio provided instrumental support for Larry Laurence (with The Quintones providing vocal harmonies).[8] By 1948, Pleis was working at the RCA Victor studios on 24th Street, appearing on the cover of the January 1, 1949 issue of Billboard playing piano at the studio's holiday party.[9] His orchestra backed Teresa Brewer and Bobby Wayne on their 1949 single "Copper Canyon"/"'Way Back Home".[10]

London Records

Pleis joined the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1950.[11] He began work as arranger and composer at London Records under Tutti Camarata.[12] The orchestra backed Ralph Young on his 1950 London single "Please Treat Her Nicer"/"I've Got the World on a String",[13] and Pleis released his own single "Ragging the Scale"/"Story of the Stars",[14] the B-side of which ranked at number 10 on "The Disk Jockeys Pick" in Billboard.[15] In early May 1950, he accompanied his future wife, London recording artist Eve Young, on a promotional tour prior to her opening show.[16] Pleis released several more singles, "Time Alone (Can Heal a Broken Heart)"/"What is There to Say",[17] "I'll Always Be in Love with You"/"Caravan",[18] and "Le Petite Valse"/"Ragamuffin", and the orchestra backed Snooky Lanson on his 1950 London single "You Wonderful You"/"Honestly I Love You".[19]

In June 1950, Pleis married Eve Young,[20][21] and the March birth of their daughter Michelle was noted in an April 1951 Billboard.[22] The Orchestra backed Eve on her single "Just for Tonight"/"Would I Love You?"[23] In 1952, Pleis and orchestra worked with The Bell Sisters[24] and continued working with Teresa Brewer.[25] Pleis left London Records,[26] and Eve signed a new contract with Coral Records, recording under her new name, Karen Chandler.[27] 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".[28]

Decca Records

In mid-1953 Pleis joined Decca Records under Milt Gabler.[26] Pleis and Orchestra released "The Eighteenth Variation"/"Mr. Peepers" under the Decca label.[29] The orchestra backed Karen Chandler again on "Why?"/"Flash From the Blue".[30] 1954 saw the release of the orchestra's Decca singles, "Frenchman in St. Louis"/"Pagan in Paris",[31] "Ah Ri Rung",[32] and "For Always"/"Beyond the Blue Horizon",[33] and the orchestra backed the Dinning Sisters on "Steel Guitar Rag",[34] Eileen Barton on "And Then",[35] and Teresa Brewer on her album A Bouquet of Hits.[36]

1955 saw Pleis scheduled to be profiled in the April issue of The American Magazine.[37] Pleis and His Orchestra began releasing singles of Disney film songs (also collected and released on the album Music from Disneyland),[38] and also released "Lies"/"Hey There"[39] and "Pauline"/"The Trouble With Harry", the title tune for Alfred Hitchcock's film, The Trouble with Harry.[40]

In 1956, Pleis and His Orchestra again backed Karen Chandler, this time on her first Decca release,[41] and Pleis released another album, Strings and Things.[42] The orchestra backed Bobby Darrin on his single "Rock Island Line"/"Timber".[43] In October, Pleiss' song "Giant", theme of the film Giant, debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #93, peaking at #91 in December,[44] and the song "I'll Always Be In Love With You" charted at #65, also in December.[45] Pleis also produced Bing Crosby's album, Songs I Wish I Had Sung the First Time Around.[46]

1957 saw the release of singles "(But As They Say) That's Life"/"Goodnight Waltz",[47] "Search for Paradise"/"Serenade to Michelle",[48] and "The Carefree Heart"/"Serenade in Soft Shoe",[49] and the Orchestra backed Georgie Shaw on "One More Sunrise", Sammy Davis Jr. on "The Golden Key",[50] and Merv Griffin on "I'll Be Thinking of You".[51] "(But As They Say) That's Life" charted at #69 in June 1957.[52]

In 1958, the Orchestra backed Carmen McRae on her album Mad About the Man,[53] as well as Toni Arden[54] and also backed The Four Aces on their album Swingin' Aces.[55] He produced the Kalin Twins' song "When", which spent five weeks at No. 1 on the UK charts.[56]

In 1960, Pleis conducted for The Castilians' album, Valentino Tangos.[57] 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".[58]

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,[59] he conducted for Billy Butterfield's album, The Golden Horn,[60] and arranged several of the tracks on Lionel Hampton's album, Soft Vibes Soaring Strings.[61] Pleis also 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,[60] and Pleis and Orchestra backed Liza Minnelli on her single, "One Summer Love"/"How Much Do I Love You?".[62]

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.[63] Pleis composed and conducted the music for the 1964 film, Diary of a Bachelor.[64] 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".[65]

Pleis produced several of Harry Belafonte's albums, Belafonte by Request (1970),[66] The Warm Touch (1971), and Calypso Carnival (1971).[67] Pleis also produced several of Jack Jones' albums, A Jack Jones Christmas (1969),[68] A Time for Us (1970),[69] and Christmas With Jack Jones (1973).[70] He produced Hugo Montenegro's album, Colours Of Love (1970).[71]

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.[72]

Private life and death

Pleis was married to singer Karen Chandler.[73] He died December 5, 1990 in Palm Springs, California,[1] and is survived by his children Michelle Pleis Stirber, Jason Pleis, and Damon Pleis.[73]

Charted hits

Selected discography

Albums

Music from Disneyland

Jack Pleis and His Orchestra and Chorus (1955). Music from Disneyland (LP). Decca. DL 8105. 

Broadway Goes Hollywood

Jack Pleis, His Piano, Orchestra and Chorus (1955). Broadway Goes Hollywood (LP). Decca. DL 8167. 
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'"  Rogers & Hammerstein  
2. "People Will Say We're in Love"  Rogers & Hammerstein  
3. "I Love Paris"  Cole Porter  
4. "Stranger in Paradise"  Robert Wright/George Forrest  
5. "Hey There"  Jerry Ross/Richard Adler 2:43
6. "I'll Know"  Frank Loesser  
7. "Hello, Young Lovers"  Rogers & Hammerstein  
8. "We Kiss in a Shadow"  Rogers & Hammerstein  
9. "A Wonderful Guy"  Rogers & Hammerstein  
10. "Younger Than Springtime"  Rogers & 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. 

Serenades to Remember

Jack Pleis, His Piano and Orchestra (1957). Serenades to Remember (LP). Decca. DL 8586. 
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Moonlight Serenade"  Glenn Miller/Mitchell Parish  
2. "Serenade To Michelle"  Jack Pleis  
3. "Sunrise Serenade"  Frankie Carle/Jack Lawrence  
4. "Serenade In Soft Shoe"  Jack Pleis  
5. "Autumn Serenade"  Peter DeRose/Sammy Gallop  
6. "A Blues Serenade"  Frank Signorelli  
7. "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. 

Medley from The Musical "Through The Years"

Jack Pleis (1961). Medley from The Musical "Through The Years" (EP). Columbia Records. S7 31371. 
Medley From The Musical "Through The Years"
No. TitleWriter(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  
Medley From The Musical "I Married An Angel"
No. TitleWriter(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. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "I'll Always Be in Love With You"  Bud Green/Herman Ruby/Sam H. Stept 2:47
2. "On Top of Old Smokey"  Traditional 2:13
3. "And Now I've Found My Love"  Jack Pleis 2:24
4. "You Are My Only Love"    2:48
5. "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

With the Henri René Orchestra

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jack Pleis at the Internet Movie Database
  2. ↑ "Carmen McRae Issues". CarmenMcRaeDiscography.com. August 22, 2006. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Musiker, Naomi; Musiker, Reuben (2014). "Pleis, Jack". Conductors and Composers of Popular Orchestral Music: A Biographical and Discographical Sourcebook. Routledge. ISBN 9781135917708.
  4. ↑ "Tracks Arranged By: Jack Pleis". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  5. ↑ "Jon Savitt And His Top Hatters". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "News Notes". Billboard. February 21, 1942. p. 61.
  8. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. July 5, 1947. p. 131.
  9. ↑ "Front cover". Billboard. January 1, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  10. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. December 17, 1949. p. 93.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ "Camarata, Lewis Set Up London's New A&R Policy". Billboard. March 4, 1950. p. 15.
  13. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. March 18, 1950. p. 117.
  14. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. March 25, 1950. p. 34.
  15. ↑ "The Disk Jockeys Pick". Billboard. April 15, 1950. p. 50.
  16. ↑ "Music—As Written". Billboard. May 13, 1950. p. 20.
  17. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. September 30, 1950. p. 99.
  18. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. November 25, 1950. p. 32.
  19. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. August 26, 1950. pp. 33, 94.
  20. ↑ "Lovely Idaho Star Weds Executive Of Music Company". The Salt Lake Tribune. July 30, 1950. p. 20.
  21. ↑ "Music as Written". Billboard. December 2, 1950. p. 14.
  22. ↑ "Music as Written". Billboard. April 28, 1951. p. 18.
  23. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. January 27, 1951. p. 31.
  24. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. October 4, 1952. p. 44.
  25. ↑ "Record Reviews". Billboard. November 1, 1952. p. 38.
  26. 1 2 "Decca Adds Jack Pleis to A & R Unit". Billboard. June 20, 1953. p. 25.
  27. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. Biography of Karen Chandler at AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  28. ↑ "Coral Records advert". Billboard. March 21, 1953. p. 36. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  29. ↑ "Reviews of this Week's New Records". Billboard. October 3, 1953. p. 28.
  30. ↑ "Popular Record Reviews". Billboard. November 14, 1953. p. 50.
  31. ↑ "Review of this Week's New Records". Billboard. January 23, 1954. p. 24.
  32. ↑ "Music as Written". Billboard. June 5, 1954. p. 20.
  33. ↑ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. October 16, 1954. p. 34.
  34. ↑ "Popular Record Reviews". Billboard. January 30, 1954. p. 44.
  35. ↑ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. September 25, 1954. p. 54.
  36. ↑ "Best Selling Popular Albums". Billboard. October 23, 1954. p. 22.
  37. ↑ "Music as Written". Billboard. February 26, 1955. p. 34.
  38. ↑ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. March 26, 1955. p. 124.
  39. ↑ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. September 10, 1955. p. 40.
  40. ↑ "Popular Records". Billboard. December 10, 1955. p. 50.
  41. ↑ "Decca Records advert". Billboard. March 17, 1956. p. 45. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  42. ↑ "Reviews and Ratings of New Popular Albums". Billboard. February 2, 1957. p. 30.
  43. ↑ Karmen, Steve (2004). Me And Bobby D.: A Memoir. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 68. ISBN 9780634080265.
  44. 1 2 "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History: "Giant"". Song-database.com. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  45. 1 2 "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History: "I'll Always Be In Love With You"". Song-database.com. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  46. ↑ Friedwald, Will (2010). A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 128. ISBN 9780307379894.
  47. ↑ "Reviews and Ratings". Billboard. April 29, 1957. p. 50.
  48. ↑ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. September 2, 1957. p. 56.
  49. ↑ "Pop Records". Billboard. October 14, 1957. p. 51.
  50. ↑ "Review of New Pop Records". Billboard. February 9, 1957. p. 49.
  51. ↑ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. March 9, 1957. p. 55.
  52. 1 2 "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History: "(But As They Say) That's Life"". Song-database.com. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  53. ↑ "Reviews and Ratings of New Popular Albums". Billboard. February 17, 1958. p. 37.
  54. ↑ "Review of New Pop Records". Billboard. April 7, 1958. p. 50.
  55. ↑ "Reviews and Ratings of New Popular Album". Billboard. November 10, 1958. p. 22.
  56. ↑ Kutner, Jon (2010). 1000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857123602.
  57. ↑ "Records". The Deseret News. April 7, 1960. p. 18C.
  58. ↑ Royal, Marshal (2001). Marshal Royal: Jazz Survivor. A&C Black. p. 159. ISBN 9780826458049.
  59. ↑ Neto, Lira (2007). Maysa: só numa multidão de amores (in Portuguese). Editora Globo. p. 156. ISBN 9788525043030.
  60. 1 2 Berger, Edward; Chevan, David; Carter, Benny (1993). Bassically Speaking: An Oral History of George Duvivier. Scarecrow Press. pp. 311, 338. ISBN 0810826917.
  61. ↑ "Lionel Hampton – Soft Vibes Soaring Strings". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
  62. ↑ Schechter, Scott; Stritch, Billy (2004). The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook. Citadel Press. p. 127. ISBN 9780806526119.
  63. ↑ "Force of Impulse (1961) — Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  64. ↑ Blum, Daniel (1965). Daniel Blum's Screen World 1965. Volume 16. Biblo & Tannen Publishers. ISBN 0819603066.
  65. ↑ Akkerman, Gregg (2012). The Last Balladeer: The Johnny Hartman Story. Scarecrow Press. pp. 150–151, 308. ISBN 9780810882812.
  66. ↑ "Belafonte - By Request". sm5cbw.se. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  67. ↑ "Calypso Carnival". sm5cbw.se. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  68. ↑ "Jack Jones – A Jack Jones Christmas". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  69. ↑ "1970: A Time for Us". Official Jack Jones website. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  70. ↑ "Jack Jones – Christmas With Jack Jones". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  71. ↑ "Vinyl Album: Hugo Montenegro, Colours of Love". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  72. ↑ Callahan, Mike; Edwards, David (November 16, 2003). "Ranwood Album Discography". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  73. 1 2 "Eva Nadauld (KAREN CHANDLER) Pleis Obituary". Los Angeles Daily News. Legacy.com. November 9, 2010. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
  74. ↑ "Strings and Things". Billboard. February 2, 1957. p. 30.

References

Further reading

Obituaries
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