All the Things Oscar
From ‘I’ll Take Romance’ to ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’ , we have mixed 23 ‘Jazz‘ tunes written or co-written by ‘Oscar Hammerstein II‘. It has Terry Snyder, Antigua Jazz band, Lou Donaldson, Ella Fitzgerald and many more.
Answers.com: Early in his career, Oscar, the grandson of Oscar Hammerstein I, a noted New York opera impresario, worked with Jerome Kern and George Gershwin and made a name for himself with musicals such as Rose Marie and Showboat. Then he began a long collaboration with Rodgers that resulted in Carousel, South Pacific, Flower Drum Song and The King and I. His most famous song is probably “Ol’ Man River.” (He mus’know sumpin’. But don’t say nuthin’. He jes’ keeps rollin’…. like a Rollin’ Stone?)
The Jewish Virtual Library : Precocious Oscar (numero uno, the grand-dad) learned the cigar trade quickly. In 1874 he founded and edited a tobacco trade publication, the U. S. Tobacco Journal, before inventing and patenting cigar machines. These machines, along with his trade paper, industrialized and reformed the tobacco industry and provided Oscar with a lifelong, dependable source of income for pursuing his theatrical and operatic ambitions. (And curiously Oscar II did not write “
Broadway: The American Musical : Oscar Clendenning or “Ockie” (his lifelong nickname) went to Columbia University in preparation for a career in law. It was at Columbia, that Oscar first met another Columbia alumnus: Richard Rodgers…In 1929 Oscar divorced his wife of 12 years, Myra Finn, and married Dorothy Blanchard Jacobson. When he died on August 23, 1960, a victim of stomach cancer, he left behind three children, William and Alice by Myra Finn and James by Dorothy Blanchard Jacobson.
Wikipedia : Since Rodgers’ first partner, Lorenz Hart, was too deeply entrenched in alcoholism to be of any use, Rodgers “recruited” Hammerstein to write Oklahoma!, a show which revolutionized the American musical theatre by tightly integrating all the aspects of musical theater, with the songs and dances arising out of the plot and characters. (Oscar II, a destiny engineered by tobacco and booze!)
Notable Biographies : Stephen Sondheim, lyricist for such shows as West Side Story, Sweeny Todd, and Sunday in the Park with George, was a close friend of the Hammerstein family from childhood and attributed his success in theater directly to Hammerstein’s influence and guidance.
S p a c e A g e P o p M u s i c : Snyder was Perry Como’s favorite drummer, and he worked with Como on recordings, radio, and television from the late 1940s until his death. He sat in with a variety of groups through the early 1950s, from classical schmaltz pianist Shura to Stan Freeman’s harpsichord album to light jazz combos led by Bill Clifton.
George Shearing : Three presidents have invited Mr. Shearing to play at the White House.. Ford, Carter and Reagan. He performed at the Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Linda Scott on Russ & Gary’s “The Best Years of Music” : In 1961 she signed with the Canadian-American label, a label that had struck gold with the Santo & Johnny single ‘Sleep Walk’. Though still in high school, the label changed her performing name to “Linda Scott” producing and releasing the hit ‘I’ve Told Every Little Star’.
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