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Sunday, October 31, 2021

Music USA - Neal Hefti

 

San Fernando Valley

Music USA
Neal Hefti 
And The Band With The Sweet Beat
Coral STEREO CRL 757256
1959

From the back cover: Neal Hefts, the young conductor-composer-arranger whose "Band With A Sweet Beat" is rapidly becoming one of the country's most popular musical groups, was born in Hastings, Nebraska. At the age of ten Neal was playing the trumpet with surprising skill, and while still in high school he was doing arrangements for local dance bands. His professional career began with a carnival band. It wasn't long, however, before his talents were recognized and exploited by famous music-makers such as Charlie Barnet, Charlie Spivak, Horace Heidt and Woody Herman. While with the Herman group, Heal met Mrs. Hefti, Frances Wayne, who was at that time vocalist for the band.

After a stint with the Herman "herd," Neal want to Hollywood, where he worked with Harry James and was quite active in radio. After the birth of the first of two children, Neal and Frances moved to New York.

The recipient of numerous musical awards, Neal Hefti recently earned a gold record for his recording of "Sugartime" with the McGuire Sisters.

Old Cape Code
New York, New York
Allegheny Moon
Chicago
From The Land Of The Sky And Blue Water
Home On The Range
When It's Springtime In The Rockies
A-las-ka
San Fernando Valley
Blue Hawaii
Cimarron
South
On Miami Shore

1 comment:

  1. Ahem, that's "San FERNANDO Valley"! Spoken as a native Valley dude.

    Always love finding other versions of this song, so much thanks.

    ReplyDelete

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