He Made the Music That Made an Era

During the 1930s and 1940s there emerged a group of music arrangers and conductors who worked in radio and recording. Recruited mainly from bands, they nurtured the artists entrusted to them. They helped change the face of popular music. One such was Paul Weston - musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, orchestra leader who, over five decades worked with many of America's top names. He was loved by his artists and lauded by his peers in what could be a cutthroat trade. This set helps show why. He was born in 1912 in Springfield MA and as a child mastered piano and guitar. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1933 as an Economics Major. While a student, he formed and arranged for a college band - 'The Green Serenaders'. At Columbia University, he scored and sold several music arrangements to Joe Haymes Orchestra. This success prompted him to seek work in the music profession. Singer Rudy Vallee heard his work and recruited him to his radio series where Weston wrote arrangements for Vallee and the Phil Harris Orchestra. In the autumn of 1935 Tommy Dorsey took over the Joe Haymes Orchestra and Paul became Tommy's chief arranger. In 1939, now a freelance MD, he supervised Dinah Shore recordings for RCA. One track, Yes My Darling Daughter was Dinah's first hit. Then he was invited to arrange for Bing Crosby's musical 'Holiday Inn'. He upped to Los Angeles. While in LA he met music producer/director Buddy DeSylva who was about to start Capitol Records. DeSylva insisted that Paul be appointed the company's Musical Director. Paul's first chart for the label was Johnny Mercer's G. I. Jive - a wartime hit. Early signings to the burgeoning young record company included the Pied Pipers vocal group, recently ejected from the Dorsey band and featuring the solo singer Jo Stafford who a decade or so later would become Mrs Paul Weston. Here's the music and the stars that Paul Weston helped make famous.

Additional Details

Label: JSP Records

Genre: Adult Contemporary/MOR

Release Date: 01/27/09

UPC: 788065905729