Bent Fabric
Encyclopedia
Bent Fabricius-Bjerre better known internationally as Bent Fabric, is a Danish pianist
and composer
.
ensemble after World War II
and founded a label, Metronome Records, in 1950. However, he is best known for his 1961 instrumental "Omkring et Flygel" (literally, "Around a Piano") which became a hit in Denmark. The song was re-released worldwide under the name "Alley Cat"
on Atco Records
the following year, and went to #1 in Australia
and #49 in Germany. The tune also became a hit in the United States; the song hit #2 on the AC chart and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and the LP of the same name
hit #13 on the Billboard 200
. "Alley Cat" also won a Grammy Award
for Best Instrumental. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
. The follow-up single, "Chicken Feed", hit #63 in the U.S.
Fabricius-Bjerre had done extensive work in film score
s prior to the success of his singles, and continued to work in film for decades after. In 2003, Fabricius-Bjerre returned to the charts, this time in his native Denmark. He released the album Jukebox
as Bent Fabric, where he worked with critically acclaimed Danish musicians. The singles "Jukebox" hit #3 in Denmark and "Shake" hit #10 that year. In 2006, a remix
of "Jukebox" was released, and the title track became a dance music
hit, peaking at #7 on the US Dance/Club Play charts. The album was also re-released in the United States
, this time featuring a remix of his famous instrumental song "Alley Cat", among others.
In 2005 he released the compilation album
, Kan du kende melodien (literally Do you recognize the melody) featuring some of his most famous and recognized film
and TV scores.
On Sunday December 6. 2009, the day before his 85th. birthday, Fabricius-Bjerre played host to a gala-performance of a theatrical concert featuring 24 of his songs. It was performed at the Royal Danish Theatre
by a cast of 12 performers, all of whom graduated from the Danish Academy for Musical Theatre. It was developed under The Danish New Works Development Center, Uterus, and directed and choreographed by Tim Zimmermann. Martin Konge was MD.
An interesting fact: in many states of Mexico, both the songs "Alley Cat" and "Chicken Feed" have been adopted by the ubiquitous loudspeaker vans which go around the neighborhood getting children to go outside to buy an ice cream.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Biography
Bent Fabricius-Bjerre started a jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
ensemble after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and founded a label, Metronome Records, in 1950. However, he is best known for his 1961 instrumental "Omkring et Flygel" (literally, "Around a Piano") which became a hit in Denmark. The song was re-released worldwide under the name "Alley Cat"
Alley Cat (song)
"Alley Cat", also known as "Alleycat" and "The Alley Cat," is a popular instrumental song made most famous by the Danish pianist and composer Bent Fabric, released in 1962.-History:...
on Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
the following year, and went to #1 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and #49 in Germany. The tune also became a hit in the United States; the song hit #2 on the AC chart and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and the LP of the same name
Alley Cat (album)
Alley Cat is the debut album by Danish pianist Bent Fabric. The album features the Grammy Award single "Alley Cat".-Track listing:#Alley Cat #Across The Alley From The Alamo #You Made Me Love You #Trudie #Markin' Time...
hit #13 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. "Alley Cat" also won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Instrumental. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. The follow-up single, "Chicken Feed", hit #63 in the U.S.
Fabricius-Bjerre had done extensive work in film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s prior to the success of his singles, and continued to work in film for decades after. In 2003, Fabricius-Bjerre returned to the charts, this time in his native Denmark. He released the album Jukebox
Jukebox (Bent Fabric album)
Jukebox is an album by the Danish composer Bent Fabricius-Bjerre under his Bent Fabric alias. It was released on April 19, 2004 on Universal...
as Bent Fabric, where he worked with critically acclaimed Danish musicians. The singles "Jukebox" hit #3 in Denmark and "Shake" hit #10 that year. In 2006, a remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of "Jukebox" was released, and the title track became a dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
hit, peaking at #7 on the US Dance/Club Play charts. The album was also re-released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, this time featuring a remix of his famous instrumental song "Alley Cat", among others.
In 2005 he released the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Kan du kende melodien (literally Do you recognize the melody) featuring some of his most famous and recognized film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and TV scores.
On Sunday December 6. 2009, the day before his 85th. birthday, Fabricius-Bjerre played host to a gala-performance of a theatrical concert featuring 24 of his songs. It was performed at the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
by a cast of 12 performers, all of whom graduated from the Danish Academy for Musical Theatre. It was developed under The Danish New Works Development Center, Uterus, and directed and choreographed by Tim Zimmermann. Martin Konge was MD.
An interesting fact: in many states of Mexico, both the songs "Alley Cat" and "Chicken Feed" have been adopted by the ubiquitous loudspeaker vans which go around the neighborhood getting children to go outside to buy an ice cream.
Film music
- Poeten og Lillemor (1958)
- Helle for HeleneHelle for HeleneHelle for Helene is a 1959 Danish family film directed by Gabriel Axel and starring Birgitte Bruun.-Cast:* Birgitte Bruun - Helene Thomsen* Poul Reichhardt - Tandlæge Rudolf Thomsen* Preben Mahrt - Mathisen...
(1959) - Forelsket i KøbenhavnForelsket i KøbenhavnForelsket i København is a 1960 Danish romance film directed by Finn Henriksen and starring Siw Malmkvist.-Cast:* Siw Malmkvist - Maj Lindquist* Henning Moritzen - Jan Scharf* Ove Sprogøe - Carni* Jørgen Ryg - Dingo* Perry Knudsen - Stump...
(1960) - Poeten og Lillemor og LottePoeten og Lillemor og LottePoeten og Lillemor og Lotte is a 1960 Danish comedy film directed by Erik Balling and starring Henning Moritzen.-Cast:* Henning Moritzen - The poet* Helle Virkner - Lillemor* Ove Sprogøe - Anton* Lis Løwert - Vera* Dirch Passer - The baker...
(1960) - Cirkus Buster (1961)
- Flemming på kostskole (1961)
- Svinedrengen og prinsessen på ærtenSvinedrengen og prinsessen på ærtenSvinedrengen og prinsessen på ærten is a 1962 Danish animated film directed by Poul Ilsøe and starring Dirch Passer.-Cast:* Dirch Passer - voice* Henning Moritzen - voice* Lise Ringheim - voice* Johannes Meyer - voice* Bjørn Spiro - voice...
(1962) - Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumørPoeten og Lillemor i forårshumørPoeten og Lillemor i forårshumør is a 1961 Danish comedy film directed by Erik Balling and starring Henning Moritzen.-Cast:* Henning Moritzen - Poeten* Helle Virkner - Lillemor* Eva Hast Nystad - Lotte * Ove Sprogøe - Anton...
(1963) - Tre piger i Paris (1963)
- Hvis lille pige er du?Hvis lille pige er du?Hvis lille pige er du? is a 1963 Danish comedy film directed by Erik Balling and starring Ghita Nørby.-Cast:* Ghita Nørby - Eva* Dirch Passer - Hans* Maria Garland - Hans' mor* Johannes Meyer - Zimmermann* Paul Hagen - Benny* Judy Gringer - Susie...
(1963) - Halløj i himmelsengen (1964)
- Døden kommer til middag (1964)
- Pigen og millionæren (1965)
- Slå først, Frede! (1965)
- Slap af, Frede! (1966)
- Olsen-banden (1968–1998)
- Tænk på et tal (1969)
- Ballade på ChristianshavnBallade på ChristianshavnBallade på Christianshavn is a 1971 Danish family film directed by Erik Balling and starring Poul Reichhardt.-Cast:* Poul Reichhardt - Flyttemand Olsen* Helle Virkner - Fru Olsen* Jes Holtsø - William Olsen* Paul Hagen - Dyrehandler Clausen...
(1971) - Flåklypa Grand PrixFlåklypa Grand PrixFlåklypa Grand Prix is a Norwegian stop motion-animated feature film directed by Ivo Caprino. It was released in 1975 and is based on characters from a series of books by Norwegian cartoonist and author Kjell Aukrust...
(Norwegian, 1976) - MatadorMatador (TV series)Matador is a Danish TV series produced between 1978 and 1981. It is set in the fictional Danish town of Korsbæk between 1929 and 1947. It follows the lives of a range of characters from across the social spectrum, focusing specifically on the rivalry between the families of two businessmen: The...
(TV series, 1978–1981) - Min farmors hus (1984)
- Når engle elsker (1986)
- Peter von ScholtenPeter von ScholtenPeter Carl Frederik von Scholten was Governor-General of the Danish West Indies from 1827 to 1848. He was born in Vestervig, Thy, Denmark as the son of captain Casimir von Scholten and Catharina Elisabeth de Moldrup....
(1990) - Lad isbjørnene danse (1990)
- Det skaldede spøgelse (1992)
- Blinkende lygterFlickering LightsFlickering Lights is a 2000 Danish action-comedy directed by Anders Thomas Jensen.-Plot:Four small-time gangsters from Copenhagen trick a gangster boss: they steal over 4,000,000 Danish kroner which they were supposed to bring him...
(2000) - Olsen Banden Junior (2001)
- Klovn - The Movie (2010)
Albums
- 1962 Alley CatAlley Cat (album)Alley Cat is the debut album by Danish pianist Bent Fabric. The album features the Grammy Award single "Alley Cat".-Track listing:#Alley Cat #Across The Alley From The Alamo #You Made Me Love You #Trudie #Markin' Time...
(Atco Records) - 1962 The Happy Puppy (Atco Records)
- 1964 Organ Grinder's Swing (Atco Records)
- 1964 The Drunken Penguin (Atco Records)
- 1966 Never Tease Tigers (Atco Records)
- 1967 Operation Lovebirds (Atco Records)
- 1968 Relax With Bent Fabric (Atco Records)
- 1997 The Very Best of Bent Fabric
- 1998 Klaver med mer (CMC Records)
- 2001 Mit livs melodi (Copenhagen Records)
- 2004 JukeboxJukebox (Bent Fabric album)Jukebox is an album by the Danish composer Bent Fabricius-Bjerre under his Bent Fabric alias. It was released on April 19, 2004 on Universal...
(UniversalUniversal Music GroupUniversal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
) - 2005 Kan du kende melodien (Universal)
Singles
- 1962 "Alley Cat"
- 1963 "Chicken Feed"
- 2003 "Jukebox"
- 2003 "Shake"
- 2006 "Sweet Senorita"