Leo Reisman: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American violinist and bandleader (1897–1961)}} |
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'''Leo |
'''Leo F. Reisman''' (October 11, 1897 – December 18, 1961)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=2070}}</ref> was an American violinist and bandleader in the 1920s and 1930s. Born and reared in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], United States,<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Inspired by the Russian-American [[violin]]ist [[Jascha Heifetz]], Reisman studied violin as a young man. After being rejected by the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]], he formed his own band in 1919.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Variations on a Theme: Memoirs of a Studio Musician|last=Leo|first=Kahn|pages=40}}</ref> He became famous for having over 80 hits on the popular charts during his career. [[Jerome Kern]] called Reisman's orchestra "The String Quartet of Dance Bands". |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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[[File:Leo Reisman my Sweeter than sweet.jpg|thumb|Leo Reisman and his orchestra, ''My Sweeter Than Sweet'']] Reisman's first recording was on a 10-inch 78 rpm record for Columbia Records, recorded on January 10, 1921 – the two titles being "Love Bird" (Columbia A-3366, mx.79634) and the other title being "Bright Eyes" (Columbia A-3366, mx.79635).<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/artist/leo-reisman|title=Leo Reisman 78 RPM - Discography - USA - 78 RPM|website=45worlds.com|access-date=7 October 2021}}</ref> |
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Reisman recorded for [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] exclusively from July 1923 through March 11, 1929, when he signed with [[RCA Victor|Victor]] and stayed until October 1933. He then signed with [[Brunswick Records|Brunswick]] and stayed until 1937 when he re-signed with Victor. During his 1929-1933 Victor period, Reisman recorded many lesser-known period Broadway |
Reisman recorded for [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] exclusively from July 1923 through March 11, 1929, when he signed with [[RCA Victor|Victor]], and stayed there until October 1933.<ref name="auto"/> He then signed with [[Brunswick Records|Brunswick]] and stayed until 1937 when he re-signed with Victor.<ref name="auto"/> During his 1929-1933 Victor period, Reisman recorded many lesser-known period Broadway songs, some of which were recorded by no other band. Due to his popularity, he was always one of the prominent bands during his time at Columbia, Victor and Brunswick, and he recorded prolifically. |
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Reisman also had the habit of featuring composers and [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] performers as band vocalists, including [[Harold Arlen]], [[Fred Astaire]], [[Clifton Webb]], and [[Arthur Schwartz]]. He also featured [[Lee Wiley]] in 1931-32 for her first |
Reisman also had the habit of featuring composers and [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] performers as band vocalists, including [[Harold Arlen]], [[Fred Astaire]], [[Clifton Webb]], and [[Arthur Schwartz]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> He also featured [[Lee Wiley]] in 1931-32 for her first three recordings. More often than not, his vocalists were [[Frank Luther]], [[Dick Robertson (singer)|Dick Robertson]] and later Sally Singer and George Beuler. A notable recording from this era was "[[Happy Days Are Here Again]]" in November 1929, with vocals by Lou Levin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/22221|title=78 Record: Leo Reisman - Lucky Me - Lovable You (1930)|access-date=7 October 2021|website=45worlds.com}}</ref> |
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Among his more popular hits were his |
Among his more popular hits were his recordings of [[Cole Porter]]'s "[[Night and Day (song)|Night and Day]]" (1932) and [[Con Conrad]]'s "[[The Continental (song)|The Continental]]" (1934), plus Astaire's recording of [[Irving Berlin]]'s "[[Cheek to Cheek]]" (1935).<ref name="LarkinGE"/> |
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Reisman's was primarily a dance orchestra; he was not a fan of jazz music, but some of his early 1930s 78 RPM recordings were a bit "hot". (However, Reisman employed the legendary trumpet player [[Bubber Miley]] in |
Reisman's was primarily a dance orchestra; he was not a fan of jazz music, but some of his early 1930s 78 RPM recordings were considered a bit "hot".<ref name="LarkinGE"/> (However, Reisman employed the legendary trumpet player [[Bubber Miley]] in 1930–31, who had been a featured member of [[Duke Ellington]]'s orchestra.)<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Reisman worked with [[Sam Donahue]] between 1946 - 1951.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IMDB|website= [[IMDb]]|url= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3839319/bio}}</ref> |
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[[Eddy Duchin]] was a member of Leo Reisman's orchestra; it was Reisman who gave Duchin his big break.< |
[[Eddy Duchin]] was a member of Leo Reisman's orchestra; it was Reisman who gave Duchin his big break.<ref>''The Eddy Duchin Story''. Columbia Pictures, [[Samuel A. Taylor]] (screenplay) and Leo Katcher (story), released 21 June 1956 (US)</ref> The band leader and TV personality, [[Mitch Miller]], also was a member of Reisman's orchestra.<ref>{{Cite book|title=George Gershwin: A New Biography|url=https://archive.org/details/georgegershwinne00hyla|url-access=limited|last=Hyland|first=William|publisher=Praeger|year=2003|isbn=978-0275981112|location=Westport, CT|pages=[https://archive.org/details/georgegershwinne00hyla/page/n181 151]}}</ref> |
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Reisman's work on radio included having the ''Nine o'Clock Revue'', a 30-minute weekly program on the [[Mutual Broadcasting System]] in 1937.<ref name="rd">{{cite news |title=Leo Reisman |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Daily/RD-1937/RA-1937-Feb.pdf |access-date=April 8, 2022 |work=Radio Daily |date=February 9, 1937 |page=10}}</ref> |
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*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0718457/ Leo Reisman at IMdb] |
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== Charting singles == |
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* "Down Argentina Way" (1940) ([[Billboard Hot 100|US]] No. 7) |
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* "Ferry-Boat Serenade" (1940) (US No. 19) |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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1 ''The Eddy Duchin Story''. Columbia Pictures, [[Samuel A. Taylor]] (screenplay) and Leo Katcher (story), released 21 June 1956 (USA) |
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2 William G. Hyland, ''George Gershwin, A New Biography'' (Westport, CT: Praeger, 2003), p. 151 |
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*{{IMDb name|0718457}} |
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*[https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105527 Leo Reisman recordings] at the [[Discography of American Historical Recordings]]. |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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{{Persondata |
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| name = Reisman, Leo |
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| alternative names = |
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| short description = American musician |
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| date of birth = October 11, 1897 |
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| place of birth = |
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| date of death = December 18, 1961 |
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| place of death = |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reisman, Leo}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reisman, Leo}} |
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[[Category:1897 births]] |
[[Category:1897 births]] |
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[[Category:1961 deaths]] |
[[Category:1961 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Big band bandleaders]] |
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[[Category:Jewish violinists]] |
[[Category:Jewish violinists]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American conductors (music)]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American violinists]] |
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[[Category:United States Army Band musicians]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]] |
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Latest revision as of 21:17, 16 March 2024
Leo F. Reisman (October 11, 1897 – December 18, 1961)[1] was an American violinist and bandleader in the 1920s and 1930s. Born and reared in Boston, Massachusetts, United States,[1] Inspired by the Russian-American violinist Jascha Heifetz, Reisman studied violin as a young man. After being rejected by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he formed his own band in 1919.[2] He became famous for having over 80 hits on the popular charts during his career. Jerome Kern called Reisman's orchestra "The String Quartet of Dance Bands".
Biography[edit]
Reisman's first recording was on a 10-inch 78 rpm record for Columbia Records, recorded on January 10, 1921 – the two titles being "Love Bird" (Columbia A-3366, mx.79634) and the other title being "Bright Eyes" (Columbia A-3366, mx.79635).[3]
Reisman recorded for Columbia exclusively from July 1923 through March 11, 1929, when he signed with Victor, and stayed there until October 1933.[3] He then signed with Brunswick and stayed until 1937 when he re-signed with Victor.[3] During his 1929-1933 Victor period, Reisman recorded many lesser-known period Broadway songs, some of which were recorded by no other band. Due to his popularity, he was always one of the prominent bands during his time at Columbia, Victor and Brunswick, and he recorded prolifically.
Reisman also had the habit of featuring composers and Broadway performers as band vocalists, including Harold Arlen, Fred Astaire, Clifton Webb, and Arthur Schwartz.[1] He also featured Lee Wiley in 1931-32 for her first three recordings. More often than not, his vocalists were Frank Luther, Dick Robertson and later Sally Singer and George Beuler. A notable recording from this era was "Happy Days Are Here Again" in November 1929, with vocals by Lou Levin.[4]
Among his more popular hits were his recordings of Cole Porter's "Night and Day" (1932) and Con Conrad's "The Continental" (1934), plus Astaire's recording of Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek" (1935).[1]
Reisman's was primarily a dance orchestra; he was not a fan of jazz music, but some of his early 1930s 78 RPM recordings were considered a bit "hot".[1] (However, Reisman employed the legendary trumpet player Bubber Miley in 1930–31, who had been a featured member of Duke Ellington's orchestra.)[1] Reisman worked with Sam Donahue between 1946 - 1951.[5]
Eddy Duchin was a member of Leo Reisman's orchestra; it was Reisman who gave Duchin his big break.[6] The band leader and TV personality, Mitch Miller, also was a member of Reisman's orchestra.[7]
Reisman's work on radio included having the Nine o'Clock Revue, a 30-minute weekly program on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1937.[8]
Reisman died in New York City on December 18, 1961, at the age of 64.[1]
Charting singles[edit]
- "Down Argentina Way" (1940) (US No. 7)
- "Ferry-Boat Serenade" (1940) (US No. 19)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2070. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ Leo, Kahn. Variations on a Theme: Memoirs of a Studio Musician. p. 40.
- ^ a b c "Leo Reisman 78 RPM - Discography - USA - 78 RPM". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "78 Record: Leo Reisman - Lucky Me - Lovable You (1930)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "IMDB". IMDb.
- ^ The Eddy Duchin Story. Columbia Pictures, Samuel A. Taylor (screenplay) and Leo Katcher (story), released 21 June 1956 (US)
- ^ Hyland, William (2003). George Gershwin: A New Biography. Westport, CT: Praeger. pp. 151. ISBN 978-0275981112.
- ^ "Leo Reisman" (PDF). Radio Daily. February 9, 1937. p. 10. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
External links[edit]
- Leo Reisman at IMDb
- Leo Reisman at Fadograph's Weblog: contemporary comments, personal photos, links to music, notes for a Bio
- Leo Reisman recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.
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