Irving Aaronson
Encyclopedia
Irving A. Aaronson was an American jazz
pianist
and big band
leader
.
Born in New York
, USA, Irving Aaronson learned piano from Alfred Sendry at the David Mannes School for music. From age 11 he played accompaniment in silent movie theaters (called nickelodeon
s).
He co-wrote a hit song, Boo-Hoo-Hoo, in 1921 and thereafter formed his own band. During the 1920s and the 30s, he led two big band
s and recorded with different record companies. The first group formed under his name was the Versatile Sextette in the early 1920s, later renamed the Crusaders Dance Band. In 1925, it was with this band that his first compositions were recorded
The band signed with the Victor
label where the band name was changed to Irving Aaronson and his Commanders
. Signed to the label from 1926 to 1929, the band had a notable success with Let's Misbehave
in 1927. The band appeared in Cole Porter
's Broadway
musical Paris
, in 1928.
In 1935, Aaronson starred in the Irving Aaronson Orchestra radio program on NBC
. The band toured movie theatres and ballrooms across the U.S. before calling it quits in the mid-1930s, at which time Aaronson went to work as a musical director for GM] studios. He remained there in that capacity and as assistant to producer Joe Pasternak
until his death from a heart attack in 1963.
Aaronson's band included at various times musicians such as Phil Saxe, Joe Gillespie and later band leaders in their own right Artie Shaw
, Gene Krupa
and Tony Pastor
. Western
movie actor Fuzzy Knight
was a drummer with Aaronson's band in the late 1920s.
Aaronson's most popular song, The Loveliest Night of the Year
, was not recorded with his band but was adapted by Aaronson in 1950 for the Mario Lanza
film The Great Caruso
.
in the MGM's animation named Betty Boop for President
.
Some sources say he retired at 65, other have him working till his death. He died in Hollywood of a heart attack in 1963, at 68 years old. His interment was located in Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
.
Jazz
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...
pianist
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 big band
Big 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...
leader
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
.
Born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA, Irving Aaronson learned piano from Alfred Sendry at the David Mannes School for music. From age 11 he played accompaniment in silent movie theaters (called nickelodeon
Nickelodeon movie theater
The Nickelodeon was a multi-purpose theater that was popular from about 1900 to 1914. Usually situated in converted storefronts, the Nickelodeon featured motion pictures, illustrated songs, slide shows and lectures...
s).
He co-wrote a hit song, Boo-Hoo-Hoo, in 1921 and thereafter formed his own band. During the 1920s and the 30s, he led two big band
Big 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 and recorded with different record companies. The first group formed under his name was the Versatile Sextette in the early 1920s, later renamed the Crusaders Dance Band. In 1925, it was with this band that his first compositions were recorded
The band signed with the Victor
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
label where the band name was changed to Irving Aaronson and his Commanders
Irving Aaronson and his Commanders
Irving Aaronson and His Commanders was an American big band active in New York in the Mid-twenties led by Irving Aaronson.-Sidemen:Mickey Bloom, Red Stanley, Harold Saliers, Herman Hyde, Phil Saxe, Sal Cibelli, Ralph Napoli, Stanley Johnson, Frank Cornwell, Mack Walker, Artie Quenzer, Charlie...
. Signed to the label from 1926 to 1929, the band had a notable success with Let's Misbehave
Let's Misbehave
"Let's Misbehave" is a famous song written by Cole Porter in 1927, originally intended for the female lead of his first major production, Paris...
in 1927. The band appeared in Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
's Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical Paris
Paris (1928 musical)
Paris is a musical with the book by Martin Brown, and music and lyrics by Cole Porter, as well as Walter Kollo and Louis Alter and E. Ray Goetz and Roy Turk . The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1928, was Porter's first Broadway hit. The musical introduced the song "Let's Do It, Let's Fall...
, in 1928.
In 1935, Aaronson starred in the Irving Aaronson Orchestra radio program on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The band toured movie theatres and ballrooms across the U.S. before calling it quits in the mid-1930s, at which time Aaronson went to work as a musical director for GM] studios. He remained there in that capacity and as assistant to producer Joe Pasternak
Joe Pasternak
thumb|right|250px|Pasterrnak receiving his star on [[Hollywood Boulevard]] from [[Johnny Grant |Johnny Grant]] with [[Gene Kelly]] on the left on July 29, 1991....
until his death from a heart attack in 1963.
Aaronson's band included at various times musicians such as Phil Saxe, Joe Gillespie and later band leaders in their own right 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....
, Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
and Tony Pastor
Tony Pastor
Tony Pastor was an American impresario, variety performer and theatre owner who became one of the founding forces behind American vaudeville in the mid-to-late nineteenth century...
. Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
movie actor Fuzzy Knight
Fuzzy Knight
John Forrest "Fuzzy" Knight was an American film and television actor. He appeared in over 180 films between 1929 and 1967, usually as a cowboy hero's sidekick.-Biography:...
was a drummer with Aaronson's band in the late 1920s.
Aaronson's most popular song, The Loveliest Night of the Year
The Loveliest Night of the Year
"The Loveliest Night of the Year" is a popular song.The music was first published as a waltz called "Sobre las olas" in 1888 written by Juventino P. Rosas. In 1950 the music was adapted by Irving Aaronson with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster for the movie The Great Caruso...
, was not recorded with his band but was adapted by Aaronson in 1950 for the Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza
right|thumb|[[MGM]] still, circa 1949Mario Lanza was an American tenor and Hollywood movie star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. The son of Italian emigrants, he began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16....
film The Great Caruso
The Great Caruso
The Great Caruso is a 1951 biographical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Joe Pasternak with Jesse L. Lasky as associate producer from a screenplay by Sonya Levien and William Ludwig. The original music was by Johnny Green and the cinematography by...
.
Later career
At 45, the MGM studios hired him as a musical supervisor, after his musician career. Less notable appearance on television include his voicing of Mr. NobodyMr. Nobody
Mr. Nobody may refer to:*A nickname for Sywald Skeid, a Romanian-born man*Mr. Nobody , a fictional character from the DC Comics universe*Mr. Nobody , part of the Mr. Men series of books, by Roger Hargreaves...
in the MGM's animation named Betty Boop for President
Betty Boop for President
Betty Boop for President is a 1932 Fleischer Studios animated short film starring Betty Boop. It was released on November 4, 1932 by Paramount Pictures.-Plot:Betty runs for the office of President against Mr. Nobody...
.
Some sources say he retired at 65, other have him working till his death. He died in Hollywood of a heart attack in 1963, at 68 years old. His interment was located in Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
The Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary is a Jewish cemetery located at 6001 West Centinela Avenue, in Culver City, California, USA. Many Jewish people from the entertainment industry are buried here.-Notable interments:*Irving Aaronson, composer...
.
External links
- [ Irving A. Aaronson biography at allmusic.com]
- Biography