Wayne Shanklin
Encyclopedia
Wayne Shanklin was an American music performer, composer, arranger, and producer.
Shanklin wrote several hit songs including "Primrose Lane" (1959), recorded by Jerry Wallace
and "Jezebel
", recorded by Frankie Laine
in 1951 and covered (as an instrumental) by Australian teenage guitar prodigy Rob E.G.
in 1963, as well as by Herman's Hermits
in 1967.
Shanklin's best known composition is the song "Chanson D'Amour (Song of Love)." It was first recorded in 1958 in two competing versions by Art and Dotty Todd
and The Fontane Sisters
, both of which were successful. It was later covered by The Lettermen
in the 1960s and was revived with great success by vocal jazz quartet The Manhattan Transfer
in 1976.
Shanklin founded the independent record label Signet Records in Los Angeles in 1959. His secretary, Victoria Hamway, worked right along side him and in 1964, they were married. On August 31, 1965, born to Wayne and Vicki Shanklin, was his youngest boy of many children, Edward "Windsor" Shanklin. Though Windsor his only child with Vicki.
In the early 1950s, Shanklin wrote with Al Sherman
as well as Sherman's sons, Robert
and Richard
who worked under assumed names at the time. One of the label's early successes was a song written by Shanklin. "The Big Hurt
" (1959) became a US Top 5 hit in early 1960, and is also claimed to be the first commercial use of the production technique known as "flanging
". Shanklin also wrote Miss Toni Fisher
's 1962 single "West of the Wall
", which dealt with the partition of East and West Germany and the erection of the Berlin Wall
(although exactly the same melody and arrangement was used previously for an obscure Toni Fisher single on Signet called "Toot Toot Amore").
Shanklin also contributed music to a number of films. His song "Kiss Me Quick" was featured in the 1957 Randolph Scott
western Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend. He composed the original music for the 1961 film Angel Baby that starred George Hamilton
and Mercedes McCambridge
.
Shanklin died June 16, 1970, from a heart attack in Orange County, California. He is survived by his several children including 5 year old Windsor and wife Vicki. His son Windsor and his band Jaz Dyin recorded a cover of in song Jezebel in 1983.
Shanklin's songs are still being used on the music soundtracks of several recent films; "Primrose Lane" was used on the soundtrack of Primary Colors (1998) starring John Travolta
and "Chanson D'Amour" featured on the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick
's final film, Eyes Wide Shut
(1999).
Shanklin wrote several hit songs including "Primrose Lane" (1959), recorded by Jerry Wallace
Jerry Wallace
Jerry Wallace was an American country and pop singer. Between 1958 and 1964, Wallace charted nine hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the #8 "Primrose Lane." He made his debut on the country music charts in 1965, entering it thirty-five times between then and 1980. In that timespan, Wallace...
and "Jezebel
Jezebel (song)
"Jezebel" is a 1951 popular song written by Wayne Shanklin. It was recorded by Frankie Laine with the Norman Luboff Choir and Mitch Miller and his orchestra on April 4, 1951 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39367...
", recorded by Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
in 1951 and covered (as an instrumental) by Australian teenage guitar prodigy Rob E.G.
Robie Porter
Robie Porter is an Australian country, pop/rock musician, producer and record label owner.Beginning in 1959 he performed under the stage name Rob E.G. and recorded lap steel guitar instrumentals or covers of country-style vocals. He provided four top ten hits including two #1 hits in Sydney with...
in 1963, as well as by Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most , emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers...
in 1967.
Shanklin's best known composition is the song "Chanson D'Amour (Song of Love)." It was first recorded in 1958 in two competing versions by Art and Dotty Todd
Art and Dotty Todd
Art and Dotty Todd were an American husband and wife singing duo who reached the Top Ten in the UK and the US with the respective hits "Broken Wings" and "Chanson D'Amour" ....
and The Fontane Sisters
The Fontane Sisters
The Fontane Sisters were a trio from New Milford, New Jersey.-Early years:Their mother, Louise Rosse, was both a soloist and the leader of the St. Joseph's Church choir in New Milford. Bea and Marge started out singing for local functions, doing so well, they were urged to audition in New York City...
, both of which were successful. It was later covered by The Lettermen
The Lettermen
The Lettermen are an American male pop music vocal trio. The Lettermen's trademark is close-harmony pop songs with light arrangements. The group started in 1959...
in the 1960s and was revived with great success by vocal jazz quartet The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
in 1976.
Shanklin founded the independent record label Signet Records in Los Angeles in 1959. His secretary, Victoria Hamway, worked right along side him and in 1964, they were married. On August 31, 1965, born to Wayne and Vicki Shanklin, was his youngest boy of many children, Edward "Windsor" Shanklin. Though Windsor his only child with Vicki.
In the early 1950s, Shanklin wrote with Al Sherman
Al Sherman
Al Sherman was an American Tin Pan Alley songwriter from the first half of the twentieth century. Sherman is a link in a long chain of musical Sherman family members.-Early life:...
as well as Sherman's sons, Robert
Sherman Brothers
The Sherman Brothers are an American songwriting duo that specialize in musical films, made up of Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman ....
and Richard
Sherman Brothers
The Sherman Brothers are an American songwriting duo that specialize in musical films, made up of Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman ....
who worked under assumed names at the time. One of the label's early successes was a song written by Shanklin. "The Big Hurt
The Big Hurt (song)
"The Big Hurt" is a pop song, that was a hit Toni Fisher in 1959. The song was written by her husband, Wayne Shanklin. The song went to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart in the United States...
" (1959) became a US Top 5 hit in early 1960, and is also claimed to be the first commercial use of the production technique known as "flanging
Flanging
Flanging is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together, with one signal delayed by a small and gradually changing period, usually smaller than 20 milliseconds. This produces a swept comb filter effect: peaks and notches are produced in the resultant frequency spectrum,...
". Shanklin also wrote Miss Toni Fisher
Toni Fisher
Toni Fisher was an American pop singer. She was known for her recordings of "The Big Hurt", "West of the Wall", "Maybe ," and "Why Can't The Dark Leave Me Alone".-Biography:...
's 1962 single "West of the Wall
West of the Wall
"West of the Wall" is a 1962 song written by Wayne Shanklin, which was recorded as a single by his wife Toni Fisher. The song tells of the sadness of lovers separated by the Berlin Wall which divided Germany into East and West at the time, and expresses the hope that the wall will soon fall. The...
", which dealt with the partition of East and West Germany and the erection of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
(although exactly the same melody and arrangement was used previously for an obscure Toni Fisher single on Signet called "Toot Toot Amore").
Shanklin also contributed music to a number of films. His song "Kiss Me Quick" was featured in the 1957 Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott was an American film actor whose career spanned from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of genres, including social dramas, crime dramas, comedies, musicals , adventure tales, war films, and even a few...
western Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend. He composed the original music for the 1961 film Angel Baby that starred George Hamilton
George Hamilton (actor)
George Stevens Hamilton is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Hamilton was the youngest son of bandleader George "Spike" Hamilton and his first wife, Ann Stevens . He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and lived in Blytheville, Arkansas...
and Mercedes McCambridge
Mercedes McCambridge
Carlotta Mercedes McCambridge was an American actress. Orson Welles called her "the world's greatest living radio actress."-Early life:...
.
Shanklin died June 16, 1970, from a heart attack in Orange County, California. He is survived by his several children including 5 year old Windsor and wife Vicki. His son Windsor and his band Jaz Dyin recorded a cover of in song Jezebel in 1983.
Shanklin's songs are still being used on the music soundtracks of several recent films; "Primrose Lane" was used on the soundtrack of Primary Colors (1998) starring John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
and "Chanson D'Amour" featured on the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
's final film, Eyes Wide Shut
Eyes Wide Shut
Eyes Wide Shut is a 1999 drama film based upon Arthur Schnitzler's 1926 novella Traumnovelle . The film was directed, produced and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, and was his last film. The story, set in and around New York City, follows the sexually-charged adventures of Dr...
(1999).
External links
- Internet Movie Database - Wayne Shanklin
- personal reference from Melody Lee Shanklin (Grand-Daughter of)*http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&bID=508067534