Charles Randolph Grean
Encyclopedia
Charles Randolph Grean was an American producer and composer.
s, including Glenn Miller
, Artie Shaw
, and Charlie Spivak
. He worked at RCA Victor Records under Steve Sholes, producing country and Western recordings by such artists as Eddy Arnold
, Pee Wee King
, the Sons of the Pioneers
, Texas Jim Robertson and Elton Britt
.
He was the arranger for the Nat King Cole
recording of "The Christmas Song
." In 1950, he wrote "The Thing
," a popular
song which reached number one on the charts in a version sung by Phil Harris
. The same year he became the head of A&R
at RCA Victor Records, passing over his previous superior, Sholes.
In the early 1950s he formed a production company with Joseph Csida called Csida-Grean, a management company which had handled Arnold's career and produced his syndicated television show, Eddy Arnold Time
.
One of Grean's compositions became a focus of litigation in 1958 in the case Dorchester Music v. National Broadcasting Company [171 F. Supp. 580 (S.D. Cal. 1959)]. Fred Spielman, who had composed the song "Rendezvous" in 1953, charged that Grean had plagiarized from his song in writing "I Dreamed
," using the access he had as A&R director to the original manuscripts when "Rendezvous" was submitted to RCA for recording. (No charge was made with reference to the lyrics.) The court found in favor of the plaintiff on November 18, 1958.
In the late 60s, much of his success came from working with Leonard Nimoy
, for whom he produced and wrote a great portion of Nimoy's music
. He also produced Betty Johnson
's hits "I Dreamed
" and "The Little Blue Man." He also produced the Mills Brothers
' late '60s album Fortuosity, which yielded the hit "Cab Driver." In 1969 he reached the charts as a performer, with his group, the Charles Randolph Grean Sounde, doing a version of Robert Cobert's "Quentin's Theme" from Dark Shadows
. (Billboard #13 pop, #3 easy listening.)
He died from natural causes at age 90.
; although the marriage to Johnson was short-lived, the professional relationship continued and he produced a number of her recordings.
Professional life
Grean's first work was as a copyist in several big bandBig band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
s, including Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
, Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
, and Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak was an American trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s.-Biography:...
. He worked at RCA Victor Records under Steve Sholes, producing country and Western recordings by such artists as Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold
Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
, Pee Wee King
Pee Wee King
Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski , known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "The Tennessee Waltz"....
, the Sons of the Pioneers
Sons of the Pioneers
The Sons of the Pioneers are one of America's earliest Western singing groups whose classic recordings set a new standard for performers of Western music. Known for the high quality of their vocal performances, musicianship, and songwriting, they produced finely-crafted and innovative recordings...
, Texas Jim Robertson and Elton Britt
Elton Britt
Elton Britt , born James Elton Baker, was a country music guitarist and singer-songwriter.-Biography:Elton Britt was born in Searcy County, Arkansas...
.
He was the arranger for the Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
recording of "The Christmas Song
The Christmas Song
"The Christmas Song" is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by musician, composer, and vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer...
." In 1950, he wrote "The Thing
The Thing (song)
"The Thing" is a hit novelty song by Charles Randolph Grean which received much airplay in 1950.The most popular version of the song was recorded by Phil Harris on October 13, 1950 and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-3968. The record first reached the Billboard charts on...
," a popular
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song which reached number one on the charts in a version sung by Phil Harris
Phil Harris
Harris and Faye married in 1941; it was a second marriage for both and lasted 54 years, until Harris's death. Harris engaged in a fistfight at the Trocadero nightclub in 1938 with RKO studio mogul Bob Stevens; the cause was reported to be over Faye after Stevens and Faye had ended a romantic...
. The same year he became the head of A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
at RCA Victor Records, passing over his previous superior, Sholes.
In the early 1950s he formed a production company with Joseph Csida called Csida-Grean, a management company which had handled Arnold's career and produced his syndicated television show, Eddy Arnold Time
Eddy Arnold Time
Eddy Arnold Time is an American musical television series syndicated to local stations from 1955 through 1957. The show consisted of 26 half-hour filmed episodes starring Eddy Arnold in different roles within a musical narrative...
.
One of Grean's compositions became a focus of litigation in 1958 in the case Dorchester Music v. National Broadcasting Company [171 F. Supp. 580 (S.D. Cal. 1959)]. Fred Spielman, who had composed the song "Rendezvous" in 1953, charged that Grean had plagiarized from his song in writing "I Dreamed
I Dreamed
"I Dreamed" is a popular song with music by Charles Grean and lyrics by Marvin Moore. It was published in 1956.The biggest hit version was done by Betty Johnson in 1956. This recording was released by Bally Records as catalog number 1020. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on December...
," using the access he had as A&R director to the original manuscripts when "Rendezvous" was submitted to RCA for recording. (No charge was made with reference to the lyrics.) The court found in favor of the plaintiff on November 18, 1958.
In the late 60s, much of his success came from working with Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
, for whom he produced and wrote a great portion of Nimoy's music
Leonard Nimoy discography
In December 1966, when it became apparent that the original Star Trek was developing a strong following in spite of low Nielsen ratings, Dot Records approached the producers of the show.The result was the signing of Leonard Nimoy to that label...
. He also produced Betty Johnson
Betty Johnson
Betty Johnson is an American traditional pop and cabaret singer.-Biography:Johnson was born in Guilford County, North Carolina. Her professional debut was in a family group, The Johnson Family Singers, including her parents and three brothers, singing a repertoire primarily of religious material...
's hits "I Dreamed
I Dreamed
"I Dreamed" is a popular song with music by Charles Grean and lyrics by Marvin Moore. It was published in 1956.The biggest hit version was done by Betty Johnson in 1956. This recording was released by Bally Records as catalog number 1020. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on December...
" and "The Little Blue Man." He also produced the Mills Brothers
Mills Brothers
The Mills Brothers, sometimes billed as The Four Mills Brothers, were an American jazz and pop vocal quartet of the 20th century who made more than 2,000 recordings that combined sold more than 50 million copies, and garnered at least three dozen gold records...
' late '60s album Fortuosity, which yielded the hit "Cab Driver." In 1969 he reached the charts as a performer, with his group, the Charles Randolph Grean Sounde, doing a version of Robert Cobert's "Quentin's Theme" from Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
. (Billboard #13 pop, #3 easy listening.)
He died from natural causes at age 90.
Personal life
Grean was married four times, once to Betty JohnsonBetty Johnson
Betty Johnson is an American traditional pop and cabaret singer.-Biography:Johnson was born in Guilford County, North Carolina. Her professional debut was in a family group, The Johnson Family Singers, including her parents and three brothers, singing a repertoire primarily of religious material...
; although the marriage to Johnson was short-lived, the professional relationship continued and he produced a number of her recordings.