Sunday 14 June 2020

Stanley Black born 14 June 1913


Stanley Black OBE (14 June 1913 – 27 November 2002) was an English bandleader, composer, conductor, arranger and pianist. He wrote and arranged many film scores and recorded prolifically for the Decca label (including London and Phase 4). Beginning with jazz collaborations with American musicians such as Coleman 
Hawkins and Benny Carter during the 1930s, he moved into arranging and recording in the Latin American music style and also won awards for his classical conducting.

Black was born as Solomon Schwartz in Whitechapel, England. His parents were Polish and Romanian Jews. He began taking piano lessons at the age of seven, before studying under Rae Robertson at the distinguished Matthay School of Music. At the age of 12, he had a composition performed on the new BBC radio service, and, three years later, won a Melody Maker arranging contest, while simultaneously beginning a writing and performing career in that 1930s era of orchestral dance and jazz music.

In the early 1930s, he was employed in dance bands and had worked with Howard Jacobs, Joe Orlando, Lew Stone, Maurice Winnick and Teddy Joyce by the time he joined Harry Roy in 1936. He had also broadcast and recorded with several American musicians, including jazz saxophonists Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter during their stays in England during this decade. Hawkins had first heard Black on late night radio shows with Lew Stone's band. When the two eventually met in London, the reviewer Edgar Jackson suggested they record together, and the two men collaborated on a duet version of "Honeysuckle Rose".

During World War II, Black joined the Royal Air Force, and became involved in managing the entertainment of servicemen based at Wolverhampton. After 10 months with the RAF, he returned to music freelancing; in 1942, he was the conductor, pianist and arranger on Anne Shelton's radio series, Introducing Anne, and, in 1944, became the house arranger and conductor at Decca Records, where he worked with Vera Lynn and, two decades later, Caterina Valente and Dickie Henderson.


                              

From 1944 to 1952, Stanley was conductor of the BBC Dance Orchestra, during which time he made more than 4,000 broadcasts. In an era when radio in general, and the BBC Light Programme in particular, was the dominant medium, he provided the sound behind countless hit productions, including Hi Gang, with Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels, Ray's A Laugh, with comedian Ted Ray, and the comedy series Much Binding In The Marsh and The Goon Show.

He also presented his own shows, in which he displayed a mastery of the Latin- American styles he had first encountered on a 1938 tour of South America with Harry Roy. In 1947, he married the dance band singer Edna Kaye, with whom he had a son and a daughter. Later, as television expanded, he became music director on a host of programmes, and, after 1955, was a pioneer writer of television advertising jingles.

Russ Conway, Liberace & Stanley Black
Stanley's film work began in 1948, as the (uncredited) composer on It Always Rains On Sunday, and musical director on Monkey's Paw. Altogether, he worked on more than 80 films, including Laughter In Paradise (1951), The Naked Truth (1957), Too Many Crooks (1958) and Sparrows Can't Sing (1963). His last work was on Valentino, and The Razor's Edge (1984).

In the 1960s and 70s, Stanley returned to his classical roots, issuing albums of works by Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Wagner, Khachaturian and Dvorak, recorded by such orchestras as the London Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic and the London Symphony. His many foreign tours included trips to Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australasia and north America. In 1977, he became the first non-American to conduct the Boston Pops Orchestra, and was associate conductor of the Royal Philharmonic in 1967, and principal conductor of the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra in 1968-69.

Stanley with his wife Edna Kaye 1998
In 1994, as he entered his 80s, he starred with Edmundo Ros at the Royal Festival Hall, and shared the stage at the Barbican with Stéphane Grappelli. In 1995, he was a guest performer at the Royal Albert Hall concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of VE Day.

Among Stanley's many honours were an Ivor Novello Award for Summer Holiday (1962), and, in 1987, the gold award of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. He was on the advisory board of Who's Who In Music, and contributed a huge section on the history of jazz and the dance orchestra for the New Musical Educator. He was made an OBE in 1986.

 Stanley Black died in London, November 26 2002, aged 89.

(Edited from The Guardian & Wikipedia)

Stanley Blacks plays and conducts the NZBC Orchestra,1974

10 comments:

  1. For “A Tribute To Stanley Black (Decca 2003) “ go here:

    CD1

    https://www.upload.ee/files/11875740/StanleyBlack_TributeCD1.rar.html

    01. Granada
    02. Red Velvet
    03. La Cumparsita
    04. Jealousy
    05. Blue Tango
    06. Tropical
    07. Te Amo
    08. Melody of Love
    09. April in Portugal
    10. Melodie D'Amour
    11. Jungle Drums
    12. The Breeza and I
    13. Os Quindins de Ya Ya
    14. Baia
    15. The Girl from Ipanema
    16. I Get a Kick out of You
    17. A Foggy Day
    18. Hand in Hand
    19. With a Song in My Heart
    20. Around the World
    21. Cavatina
    22. It's Magic


    CD2

    https://www.upload.ee/files/11875762/StanleyBlack_TributeCD2.rar.html

    01. The Big Country
    02. Grand Canyon Suite: Sunrise
    03. Grand Canyon Suite: Painted Desert
    04. Grand Canyon Suite: On the Trail
    05. Grand Canyon Suite: Sunset
    06. Grand Canyon Suite: Couldburst
    07. Rhapsody in Blue
    08. Carmen Fantasy
    09. Flight of the Bumble Bee
    10. There's No Business Like Show Business
    11. Something's Coming
    12. Oklahoma Valley
    13. Fiddler on the Roof

    Credits:
    Stanley Black & His Orchestra CD1 (1-5, 8-12, 14-16. 18, 20-22.) CD2 (8)
    The Kingsway Promenade Orchestra, CD1 (19)
    The London Festival Orchestra, CD2 (1-7, 10 – 13)
    The London Festival Chorus CD2 (10 – 13)
    The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra CD2 (9)
    Caterina Valente, CD1 (10)
    Dickie Valentine, CD1 (7)
    Ethel Merman, CD2 (10)
    Stanley Black, His Piano And Latin Rhythms CD1 (6,13,17)


    A big thank you to Mijas @ acmmijas blog for original post. I had to replace CD1 track 14 as it was missing! Hopefully it’s the right track.

    ---------------------------------------------------------

    Here’s one from my library.

    For “Early Black Magic: Tribute to Stanley Black (ASV 2003)” go here:

    https://www.upload.ee/files/11875343/Stanley_Black_-_Early_Years.rar.html

    1. Lullaby
    2. Oh, Lady Be Good!
    3. Lost In A Fog
    4. Honeysuckle Rose
    5. I Ain't Got Nobody
    6. Trouble In Paradise
    7. I Won't Dance
    8. Porcupine Rag
    9. Someday, Sweetheart
    10. Roy Club Rag
    11. Gershwin Medley: Oh, Lady, Be Good! - Clap Yo' Hands - Fascinatin' Rhythm
    12. Caravan
    13. Out Of The Ragbag - Medley: Bugle Call Rag - That Ripping Rag - Maple Leaf Rag
    14. Victory Roll Rag
    15. Oasis
    16. South American Way
    17. I Threw A Kiss In The Ocean
    18. At The Crossroads
    19. A Sultan Goes To Harlem
    20. Jungle Bird
    21. Andalucia
    22. Sans Ton Amour
    23. Sulla Laguna
    24. Pianolo
    25. Estrellita

    Credits:
    Coleman Hawkins 18 Nov 1934 (tracks 1 – 4)
    Stanley Black & His Oriole Modernists voc. Nat Gonella (track 4)
    Howard Jacobs & His Orch voc. Bil Airey Smith (track5)
    Lew Stone & His band (track 7)
    Harry Roy & His Band (tracks 8, 11 – 16)
    Eric Winstone & His Orch (track 17)
    Ambrose & His Orch (track18)
    Carl Bariteau & His Orch (track 19)
    Stanley Black – (all tracks)

    Even when compared with his many albums of lounge, dance band and mood music, Living Era's tribute compilation Early Black Magic may serve as the ideal introduction to pianist, arranger and bandleader Stanley Black. That's because it provides genuine, substantial background for his later successes by focusing upon his remarkable adventures in the British jazz and dance band business between 1931 and 1951.

    ReplyDelete
  2. https://mega.nz/file/it5DxCqZ#f9u-f8TnJKPmt0XZBhDYFVYoqFzCBBbrzRgY3upKhF4

    Dancing Time 1951 10"

    Not my rip

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi @boppinbop. This biog is great, Stanley black was my great uncle and I would really love to get hold of some more pictures and video footage (if there is any) of him to show to my grandpa. I thought you may be able to help point me in the right direction? Thanks so much, katie :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Katie, Thanks for your nice comment All my photos are supplied from Google or Bing images which you can download, but sometimes you cannot "save" as the photo may be under copywrite. Regarding videos or film footage I just found a clip on YouTube which I have added today. It may be worth while searching YouTube or other video web pages frequently as you never know what someone may post! Best wishes, Bob

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks so much Bob, appreciate it. I have found it to difficult to find any footage at all but I’ll check what you’ve uploaded :) happy and healthy new year to you’

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi. My name is Martin Massini. I write from Argentina. Due to a job I had in the late nineties I managed to interview Stanley Black at his home in Hampstead. Thereafter, I had the honor of being befriended by Stanley and his wife until the death of both (in 2001/2002 I spent a year doing a masters degree in Britain, so I spent unforgettable meals and chats with them quite often). Here you can see Stanley conducting and at the piano.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8ECa0nOiL0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUDh2cc-ZZ8 1995 first minute, then minute 30:35 onwards

    Enjoy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bob,
    Thank you for all the music. Could you please re-up:

    1956 Cole Porter
    1959 Cash Box Instrumentals
    1966 Rhapsody In Blue

    Thanks for everything.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello HP,
    I am very sorry but I did not personally download any of the “selected” discography links at the time, but I did check they were all active. I will re-check the whole list and revise it..

    I did however re-visit the blogs concerned and noticed that Zokyat @ Only Instrumental Music blog has posted some more Stanley Blacks LP’s Go here: https://zokyat.wordpress.com/category/stanley-black/
    Click on individual post for comment box to ask for re-ups (although he is known to be vey very slow in answering)

    Regarding Jose Sandoval @ A Walk In The Black Forest I am afraid the blog no longer exists.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Here’s a selected discography of just a few of the active links available on the web. Many thanks to Zokyat @ Only Instrumental Music blog who has also posted many more.
    Go here: https://zokyat.wordpress.com/category/stanley-black/
    for updates. I do not have the albums below so am unable to re-up if links are dead.

    The Night Was Made For Love (1957)**

    http://www.mediafire.com/file/oz69878zm4mh1az/Stanley_Black_-_The_Night_Was_Made_For_Love_%25281957%2529.rar/file

    Summer Evening Serenade (1957)**

    https://mega.nz/file/bMFDDRRZ#FkAd_LGjFdOjGXD1qtLhcv1b6tx0KVKIG1uC_2pJeD8

    Melodies of Love (1958)**

    http://www.mediafire.com/file/li4w6348asmj9e1/Stanley_Black_-_Melodies_of_Love_%25281958%2529.rar/file

    Exotic Percussion (1962)**

    http://www.mediafire.com/file/ohre2eufkrud1c3/008-_Stanley_Black_1962_-_Exotic_Percussion_-_PHASE_4_STEREO_LONDON.rar/file

    Spain (1963)**

    http://www.mediafire.com/file/m2eippn8yqq4ptv/017-_Stanley_Black_1963_-_Spain_-_PHASE_4_STEREO_LONDON.rar/file

    Continental Tango Golden Album (1966)**

    http://www.mediafire.com/file/u54144osuc8jn7e/Stanley_Black_-_Continental_Tango_Golden_Album_%281966%29.rar

    Spectacular Dances For Orchestra (1967)**

    http://www.mediafire.com/file/07xona02fe439yn/Stanley_Black_-_Spectacular_Dances_For_Orchestra_%25281967%2529.rar/file

    A Tribute To Charlie Chaplin (1972)**

    http://www.mediafire.com/file/6wv8r2do0s75eck/Stanley_Black_-_A_Tribute_To_Charlie_Chaplin_%25281972%2529.rar/file

    ReplyDelete