Dick Jacobs
Encyclopedia
Dick Jacobs was an American
musician
, conductor, arranger
, orchestrator, music director
and an artists-and-repertoire
director for several record label
s (Coral
, Decca
, Brunswick
and Springboard) who helped Jackie Wilson
, Buddy Holly
, Bobby Darin
and others form their careers in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
and graduated from New York University
. During World War II
he served in the United States Army
, then returned to the city and spent several years arranging for Tommy Dorsey
, then partnered with Sy Oliver
to pursue freelance arranging work. When he was hired to be the musical director for the television series, Your Hit Parade
, for its 1957-58 season, he replaced most of the existing studio orchestra members with his own choices including Dick Hyman
, Don Lamond, Al Caiola
and Jerome Richardson
. At that point, the Hit Parade orchestra became one of the first on-screen orchestras to become integrated. In 1953 he produced
a number of acts
, including the McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer
, and by 1958 had a hit single
, the theme tune from the movie
, "Kathy-O." In 1956 his single
recording of "Man with the Golden Arm" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
.
According to "The Ultimate Book of Songs and Artists" by Joel Whitburn, Jacobs three biggest hits were "Main Title" and "Molly-O" (1956), "Petticoats Of Portugal" (1956), and "Fascination" (1957).
Jacobs brought a lush instrumental
orchestra
l sound to a number of rock and roll
song
s of the late 1950s, notably those for Buddy Holly and Cirino Colacrai and his vocal quartet the Bowties. Eventually retiring in the late 1970s, he authored a reference book on popular songs and songwriters, Who Wrote That Song?
He died in 1988 in New York City.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, conductor, arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, orchestrator, music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
and an artists-and-repertoire
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 :...
director for several record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s (Coral
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
, Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, Brunswick
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
and Springboard) who helped Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
, Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
and others form their careers in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Life and career
He was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. During 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...
he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, then returned to the city and spent several years arranging for Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
, then partnered with Sy Oliver
Sy Oliver
Melvin "Sy" Oliver was a jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader...
to pursue freelance arranging work. When he was hired to be the musical director for the television series, Your Hit Parade
Your Hit Parade
Your Hit Parade, is an American radio and television music program that was broadcast from 1935 to 1955 on radio, and seen from 1950 to 1959 on television. It was sponsored by American Tobacco's Lucky Strike cigarettes. During this 24-year run, the show had 19 orchestra leaders and 52 singers or...
, for its 1957-58 season, he replaced most of the existing studio orchestra members with his own choices including Dick Hyman
Dick Hyman
Richard “Dick” Hyman is an American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer, best-known for his versatility with jazz piano styles. Over a 50 year career, he has functioned as pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and, increasingly, as composer...
, Don Lamond, Al Caiola
Al Caiola
Al Caiola is a guitarist who plays jazz, country, rock, western, and pop music. He has been both a studio musician and stage performer...
and Jerome Richardson
Jerome Richardson
Jerome Richardson was an American jazz musician, tenor saxophonist, and flute player, who also played alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet and piccolo...
. At that point, the Hit Parade orchestra became one of the first on-screen orchestras to become integrated. In 1953 he produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
a number of acts
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, including the McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer was an American pop singer whose style incorporated elements of country, jazz, R&B, musicals and novelty songs. She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of the 1950s, recording nearly 600 songs. Born Theresa Breuer in Toledo, Ohio, Brewer died of a neuromuscular...
, and by 1958 had a hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
, the theme tune from the movie
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...
, "Kathy-O." In 1956 his single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
recording of "Man with the Golden Arm" 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,...
.
According to "The Ultimate Book of Songs and Artists" by Joel Whitburn, Jacobs three biggest hits were "Main Title" and "Molly-O" (1956), "Petticoats Of Portugal" (1956), and "Fascination" (1957).
Jacobs brought a lush instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l sound to a number of rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s of the late 1950s, notably those for Buddy Holly and Cirino Colacrai and his vocal quartet the Bowties. Eventually retiring in the late 1970s, he authored a reference book on popular songs and songwriters, Who Wrote That Song?
He died in 1988 in New York City.
Singles
- Coral 61606 - "Molly-O" / "Butternut" (1956)
- Coral 61692 - "Seven Wonders of the World" / "Theme from "East of Eden"" (1956)
- Coral 61724 - "Petticoats of PortugalPetticoats of PortugalPetticoats of Portugal is a popular song with music and Lyrics by Michael Durso, Mel Mitchell and Murl Kahn. One of the best known versions of this song was recorded by Dick Jacobs and His Orchestra in 1956, and released by Coral Records on a single along with "Song of the Vagabonds"...
" / "Song of the Vagabonds" (1956) - Coral 61794 - "Big Beat" / "Tower's Trot and Then You Do That Step" (1957)
- Coral 61864 - "Fascination" / "Summertime in Venice" (1957)
- Coral 61907 - "Place Pigalle" / "Lovely Ladies of Milano" (1957)
- Coral 61951 - "Mambo No. 5Mambo No. 5"Mambo No. 5" is a mambo and jive dance song originally recorded and composed by Pérez Prado in 1949.The song's popularity was renewed by Lou Bega's sampling of the original, released under the same name on Bega's 1999 debut album A Little Bit of Mambo....
" / "Marchin' Drummer Blues" (1958) - Coral 62086 - "A Touch of Pink" / "Happy People of Monterrey" (1959)
Albums
- Main Title (with George Cates Orchestra & Chorus) - Coral CRL-57065
- The Man With the Golden Baton - Coral CRL-57127
- Themes from Horror Movies - Coral CRL-57240
- Written In the Stars (The Zodiac Suite) - Coral CRL-57339
- Fascination - Vocalion VL-3672