Siboney
Dot DLP-3027
From the back cover: Mort Lindsey was on his way to becoming a professor of music when his education was interrupted by World War II. After three years in the Air Force, he returned to complete his Master's Degree at Columbia University. However, he never got to teach a class because on the day of graduation he accepted a position as staff pianist with the National Broadcasting Company in New Your City.
Mort stayed at N.B.C. for three years during which time he played an average of twelve fifteen minute programs weekly, working under conductors such as Lyn Murray, Roy Shield, Norman Clotier and Milton Katins and with artists including Morton Downey, Jane Pickens, Paul Winchell, Eddie Albert and many others.
He then left to free lance and in a short while was playing the organ for three weekly quiz shows, helmed by John Reed King, Joey Adams and Don Ameche, respectively. In addition he managed to handle the piano chores on Jerry Lester's "Broadway Open House," and a daily TV show headed by Andy and Della Russell.
It was at this point in his career that Mort decided he wanted to be more than just a pianist and he promptly gave up his many radio and TV shows, and proceeded to study singing. In order to finance his studies and to remain in the background he went to work as an arranger on the Arthur Godfrey program working under Archie Bleyer's direction.
When he felt ready to make the transition from pianist to singer-painist, Mort embarked on the supper club circuit. He made several records and had on of the top novelty records of 1953 - his own composition, entitled "Scratch".
It was while he was appearing at the "Ruban Bleu", in New York City, that Mort was offered the position of singer, orchestra leader and musical director of the George Skinner Show, which was heard five times weekly on WCBS-TV.
Mort makes his home in Nutley, New Jersey, and is married to Judy Johnson, the lovely television singing star.
Tiger Rag
Sioux City Sue
Moonlight Serenade
Dardanella
Siboney
Makin' Whoopee
Waltz Of The Roses
Hawaiian War Chant
Sentimental Rhapsody
Dot And Dash Boogie
Doodle Doo Doo
Together
Mort Lindsey was also the orchestra leader for both Judy Garland, and Barbra Streisand.
ReplyDeleteNotwithstanding the blurb on the back cover of this record, Mort Lindsey, who died in 2012, conductor, arranger and composer, was best known as the music director for Judy Garland in the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteHe also worked extensively with Pat Boone prior to his association with Miss Garland, and was for many years Merv Griffin's conductor on his television series.
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