Re: [Harp-L] Re: Frankie Laine Dies at age 93

[icemanle@xxxxxxx]

There was a great piece on "Fresh Air w/Terry Gross" last week. She replayed an interview w/Frankie recorded about 20 years ago. He was quite an unassuming and nice guy - at least he gave good interview. I especially liked the bit in which he was hired to sing the theme from Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles". At the time, he had no idea who Mel really was and was unaware that the movie was to be a funny spoof, so he sang the song with a complete serious attitude, which was exactly what Mel wanted. Frankie only found out it was a comedy months later, after recording the song.
 
The Iceman 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: bassharp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 11:46 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Frankie Laine Dies at age 93


I found Elizabeth's post on the recent death of Frankie Laine very 
close to my thoughts and feelings for him. 
 
Frankie recorded "Thatâs My Desire" in 1947, same year as The Harmonicats' recording of "Peg O' My Heart." 
 
*** 
>From the 1948 Britannica Yearbook: 
 
The three leading tunes of 1947 were probably "Near You", "That's My Desire" and "Peg O' My Heart," and each of them won the attention of 
the public through a single phonograph record of comparatively obscure origin. 
 
"Near You," which headed radio's Hit Parade six times, made its first impression in a band recording conducted by its composer Francis Craig whose name, like that of the lyricist Kermit Goell, was about as unfamiliar as that of the record-maker, "Bullet" or the publisher, "Supreme." 
 
"Thatâs My Desire," by Carroll Loveday and Helmy Kresna, had been obscurely published 16 years before, with the copyright later assigned to Mills Music, Inc. A Mercury record by Frankie Laine catapulted it 
to a prosperity, which was shared by Laine and the manufacturer. 
 
The real "old-timer" of the top trio, however, was "Peg O' My Heart," which was first heard in 1913 when Alfred Bryan's words and Fred Fisherâs music capitalized on Hartley Manners' play of the same name. 
It was a Vitacoustic record by the Harmonicats (three harmonicas and a guitar) that brought back this charmingly unpretentious ballad of the 
past. The song was on the Hit Parade for 20 weeks, 10 times at the top. 
 
Top ranking bands were those conducted by Ted Weems, Eddy Howard and Francis Craig; smaller combinations such as the Harmonicats, the Three Suns and the King Cole Trio were also prominent. 
 
Ref: 1948 Britannica Book Of The Year - A Record of the March of Events of 1947 - Published by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc, pages 509, 510. 
*** 
 
In March 1997, The New World Harmonica Trio - Ron Kalina - chromatic, Michael Burton - chord, and myself - bass, were privileged to play four shows with Mr Laine. Booked to play 2 shows at Cal State Northridge Performing Arts Center in Northridge, CA on 3/2/97, and at Leisure World Clubhouse in Laguna Hills, CA on 3/7/97, with the Benny Holman Orchestra backing us, it was pure pleasure for us. 
 
The second pleasure, after first meeting Mr Laine, was our planned rehearsal with the orchestra. The orchestra members were not excited about meeting and backing us, and some actually did not show up for the initial rehearsal - it was obviously thin, and they were not excited about backing a harmonica group! They were scheduled to play only 
our opener, next to closer, and closer - 3 charts in all. These of course would be the same for all four scheduled shows. 
 
However, when Ron started passing out the charts, and explaining what 
we expected of them, they suddenly realized that Ron might just know what he was talking about! To see the change come over them was exhilarating to us, to say the least. Came time for the second rehearsal, we had the full group, and they were asking why they were 
not expected to play for every selection! 
 
Then after Mr Laine witnessed our first show, he was reminded of working  with the Harmonicats many years earlier, and was also very friendly to us. Prior to arrival at the second date, 5 days later, I purchased a CD copy of his album, "Frankie Laine's Greatest Hits," and he graciously autographed it for me. Just talking and reminiscing with him in our dressing rooms backstage was absolute delight for me. 
 
He was just short of 83 at that time - his birthdate was March 30, 1913 and he celebrated his 84th birthday with a big party in San Diego, CA that year. 
 
In October of 2005, at the age of 92, he sang "That's My Desire" on stage for the annual PBS show "Moments To Remember" for their fund raiser, which was then shown in the Spring of 2006. He sounded great, of course, though he needed a little help to walk forward to the mic. 
I recorded his segment directly to DVD. 
 
He was nearly 94 when he died on February 6, 2007. Rest in peace, Mr Laine. 
 
-- BassHarp 
PO Box 5061 
Hudson, FL 34674-5061 
http://www.bassharp.com/bh_itin.htm 
 
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