Roy Hamilton

 

Cuban Love Song

Roy Hamilton

Epic LN 3176

1956

From the back cover: Within a very few months Roy Hamilton moved from comparative obscurity into the limelight with a series of recording its on records. His uncommonly warm voice and obvious sincerity made him an instant success, and since that time he has moved constantly forward, developing his artistry and garnering louder acclaim with every appearance. That a new part was on the horizon was event from his first record, for his made his success not with a new song, but one that had been firmly popular for a decade. This was the Rodgers-Hammerstein You'll Never Walk Alone, a song of string inspirational qualities, which, ever since it was first heard in "Carousel," has been among the country's most believed numbers. But in Roy Hamilton's interpretations, it rose to sales heights it had not known before, and found in him perhaps its most impressive voice.

From that time forward, Roy Hamilton has made many successful recordings and personal appearances, and often his greatest hits have been with songs that are already established popular classics. He seems not so much to bring to these songs new stylings or highly personalized arrangements, as to be singing them for the first time, and making them sound as if the listener were hearing them for the first time. This is an extraordinary gift, and it is one he has developed to a splendid point of communication, singing his songs with such feeling and honesty that his listeners are impressed anew at every performance. In this collection, he offers a variety of old and new melodies, each one stamped with his strongly affirmative approach.

The sketches above give some idea of the manifold interest and careers of Roy Hamilton. Born in Leesburg, Virginia, in 1929, he began singing in church choirs at the age of six. When he was fourteen, his family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, where he sang with the Central Baptist Church choir, and finished his schooling. Although other interests engaged him, it was music which took the firmest hold, and from such music he branched into operetta and light operatic music, and was hired any a small club in New Jersey to entertain. One night he was heard by a disc jockey named Bill Cook, who brought time ti the attention of Marvin Holtzman, head of popular repertoire for Epic Records, who signed him at once. And at almost the same time, Roy Hamilton became one of the first major stars of the young company.

Along the way to stardom, Roy studied commercial art, showing such aptitude that his instructors encouraged him to make excursions into more serious application of his talents, and he became a highly enthusiastic amateur painter. Some of his canvases, in fact, are to be seen in New Jersey galleries, and he still paints when other activities permit. After school days, he considered taking up boxing as a career, and in this too he was successful. During the brief time he was engaged in the sport, his amateur record listed six wins and one loss, and the latter was avenged some time later in a return match. And of course once he became a star on records, he was sought after by nightclubs for personal appearances, and took these in his stride as well. Beginning with relatively little knowledge of show business, he worked over his routines and developed his act to a thoroughly delightful presentation, learning to make contact with his audience in person as easily and completely as he had on records, Today he is a star performer, and his career is still young.

But it is a recording star that Roy Hamilton appears here, and as one of the brightest. In these dozen songs, he displayed the force and strength that first brought him nationwide acclaim, and the same deep feeling for the sense of lyrics that has made each of his records so rewarding an experience. Whether he sings old favorites, popular classic, or new songs, his versatility is such that the result is exactly right. Shading his voice, tailoring his interpretations to the songs themselves, he presents a varied and fascinating recital that will delight his countless fans, and show to newcomers whey Roy Hamilton has so swiftly become one of America's most popular singers.

From Billboard - February 18, 1956: The warm voice of Roy Hamilton, coupled with excellent instrumental backing, provides a showcase for a dozen songs – many of them great standards – as "Without A Song," "Cuban Love Song," "Trees" etc. Hamilton has had strong hit singles during the past year, and can be expected to sell well on this package.

Without A Song

Cuban Love Song

Trees

A Little Voice

Misty Valley

Take Me With You

Since I Fell For You

All This Is Mine

If You Are But A Dream

My Own Beloved

If Each One Would Teach One

Because