Words and Music by Will Harris and Victor Young
Victor Young (August 8, 1899 -- November 10, 1956) was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. He was born in Chicago.
Young began as a classical composer and concert violinist but moved into the popular music sphere when he joined Isham Jones' orchestra. He studied the piano with Isidor Philipp of the Paris Conservatory. In the mid-1930s he moved to Hollywood where he concentrated on films, recordings of light music and providing backing for popular singers, including Bing Crosby.
His composer credits include "When I Fall in Love," "Blue Star (The 'Medic' Theme)," "Moonlight Serenade (Summer Love)" from the motion picture The Star (1952), "Sweet Sue," "Can't We Talk It Over," "Street of Dreams," "Love Letters," "Around the World," "My Foolish Heart," "Golden Earrings," "Stella by Starlight", and "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You."
Young was signed to Brunswick in 1931 where his studio groups recorded scores of popular dance music, waltzes and semi-classics through 1934. His studio groups often contained some of the best jazz musicians in New York, including Bunny Berigan, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Joe Venuti, Arthur Schutt, Eddie Lang, and others. He used first-rate vocalists, including Paul Small, Dick Robertson, Harlan Lattimore, Smith Ballew, Helen Rowland, Frank Munn, The Boswell Sisters, Lee Wiley and others. One of his most interesting recordings was the January 22, 1932 session containing songs written by Herman Hupfeld "Goopy Geer" and "Down The Old Back Road", which Hupfeld sang and played piano on (his only two known vocals).
In late 1934, Young signed with Decca and continued recording in New York until mid-1936, when he relocated to Los Angeles.
On radio, he was the musical director of Harvest of Stars. He was musical director for many of Bing Crosby's recordings for the American branch of Decca Records. For Decca, he also conducted the first album of songs from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, a sort of "pre-soundtrack" cover version rather than a true soundtrack album. The album featured Judy Garland and the Ken Darby Singers singing songs from the film in Young's own arrangements. He also composed the music for several Decca spoken word albums.
He received 22 Academy Award nominations for his work in film, twice being nominated four times in a single year, but he did not win during his lifetime. He received his only Oscar posthumously for his score of Around the World in Eighty Days (1956). His other scores include Golden Boy (1939), For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943), Love Letters (1945), So Evil My Love (1948), Samson and Delilah (1949), Our Very Own (1950), My Favorite Spy (1951), Payment on Demand (1951), The Quiet Man (1952), Scaramouche (1952), Something to Live For (1952), Shane (1953), and Written on the Wind (1956).
As an occasional bit player, Young can be glimpsed briefly in The Country Girl (1954) playing a recording studio leader conducting Crosby while he tapes "You've Got What It Takes". His last film score was for Omar Khayyam, starring Cornel Wilde, filmed in 1956 and released by Paramount in 1957 after Young's death.
Young died in Palm Springs, California after a cerebral hemorrhage at age 56. His family donated his artefacts and memorabilia (including his Oscar) to Brandeis University, where they are housed today.
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300 Violin Orchestra (Jorge Quintero) Remixby CatanzaroProductions193,986 views
Which one is Marvin Bailey. He's my mother's first cousin. I have photos of him as a baby and young man, but am trying to figure out which adult face is his....I know he has dark hair...but that's half of the guys.
angelsart 3 months ago
This soundie dates from late 1940. The guys are definitely Bailey, Degen, Hudson, McLean, Preshaw and Seckler. Hudson and Preshaw left during the first half of '42. Lee Gotch and Tony Paris replaced them during that time. It's likely that the group downsized prior to 1946. By December, 1943, Degen and Paris had left and, together with Hudson, were singing in the Air Crew, a USAAF vocal octet. Jerry Duane was in The Starlighters, but did not join till early '47, replacing Andy Williams.
saxman1411 11 months ago
Degen, Hudson, Paris, Byrns and Jerry Duane became The Starlighters. Hudson and Byrns were also married (She previously was married to Preshaw).
Croonr1 1 year ago
Outstanding video quality! Some info: female vocalist is Pauline Byrns (aka Byrne). The fellas are Marvin Bailey, Vince Degen, Mack McLean, Bill Seckler and either Jerry Preshaw & Howard Hudson (or) Lee Gotch & Tony Paris (replacements). Film appearances: Varsity Vanities, The Big Store, Babes on Broadway, Serenade in Swing, Call Out The Marines, Six Hits and a Miss. Pauline departed in 1946 & the group downsized to Four Hits & A Miss with Beverly Mahr. Cheers!
1nightstorm 1 year ago
Great soundie!
billywiggle 1 year ago