Ivan Ulz
Encyclopedia
Ivan Ulz is an American
songwriter
.
and Alaska
. Although Ulz did not achieve lasting fame as a folk singer/songwriter, he did make some notable connections, including introducing Lowell George
to the music of Rickie Lee Jones
by singing him "Easy Money" over the telephone (thereby creating an alliance which eventually led to Ms. Jones's recording contract with Warner Brothers), and giving an unknown comic named Steve Martin
a spot in the open mic that Ulz was running at Coffee and Confusion in San Francisco. When living in "The City", Ulz befriended Michael Clarke
, a young itinerant bongo
player on the streets of North Beach, brought him home to feed him, and introduced him to some friends from Los Angeles, who subsequently became The Byrds
. Ulz has also been linked to another Byrds member, Gene Clark
, with whom he penned several songs in 1964. None of the song co-written by Clark and Ulz were ever recorded.
Ivan the Ice Cream Man, Ulz's only album of original songs for adults, was released in 1970 on Stanyan Records, a label owned by self-styled poet Rod McKuen
. Some of the supporting musicians who performed on Ice Cream Man went on to have successful careers of their own, including Jackson Browne
, Lowell George
, Roy Estrada
, Jimmy "Guitar" Smith, and Dick Rosmini
. Although he did not perform on the album, legendary blues guitarist Steve Mann
co-wrote two of the tracks on Ice Cream Man: "Beginning to Find My Way" and "Circles Under Squares."
In 1980, Ulz moved to New York City
and changed his focus from folk rock to children's music. From 1997 to 1999, Ulz lived in Arroyo Grande, California
, where he recorded an album of children's music and hosted a children's radio show called Treasure Ivan. Today Ulz splits his time between Greenwich Village
and California's Central Coast, performing for toddlers and their families.
, Glen Yarborough, Suzy Bogguss
, Valerie Carter
, Rod McKuen
, and others. Ulz has co-written songs with Hoyt Axton
, Lowell George
, Steve Mann
, and others. Ulz's most famous song is Heartache, co-written with Lowell George and recorded by Suzy Bogguss in the 1990s. Bogguss's version of "Heartache" had considerable success on the country music charts. Most recently, Ulz's song Fire Truck! was published as a Sing-And-Read book by Scholastic. Fire Truck! is the only song that Ulz has written for children so far. Penned in 1990 on a red IBM Selectric typewriter
, the song has become an underground anthem among preschoolers across the nation.
writer, and is also a performer and recording artist. He has released the following recordings:
actress named Hayley Mills
who starred in "Tiger Bay," "Whistle Down the Wind," and various American movies made by Disney during the 1960s. In 2004, Ulz was finally introduced to Mills.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
History
After writing and recording his first song, A Letter to Hayley (released as a 45 rpm single by Bruce Belland's LarBell label) in 1962, Ulz decided to pursue a songwriting career. He spent the next couple of decades in and out of the folk-rock scene, living in San Francisco, Los Angeles, OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Although Ulz did not achieve lasting fame as a folk singer/songwriter, he did make some notable connections, including introducing Lowell George
Lowell George
Lowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
to the music of Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones is an American vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer. Over the course of a three-decade career, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz standards.-Childhood:...
by singing him "Easy Money" over the telephone (thereby creating an alliance which eventually led to Ms. Jones's recording contract with Warner Brothers), and giving an unknown comic named Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
a spot in the open mic that Ulz was running at Coffee and Confusion in San Francisco. When living in "The City", Ulz befriended Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke (musician)
Michael Clarke , was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the 1960s rock group The Byrds from 1964 to 1967. He died in 1993, at age 47, from liver failure, a direct result of more than three decades of heavy alcohol consumption.-Biography:Clarke was born Michael James Dick in...
, a young itinerant bongo
Bongo drum
Bongo or bongos are a Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single-headed, open-ended drums attached to each other. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra and the smaller the macho...
player on the streets of North Beach, brought him home to feed him, and introduced him to some friends from Los Angeles, who subsequently became The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
. Ulz has also been linked to another Byrds member, Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
, with whom he penned several songs in 1964. None of the song co-written by Clark and Ulz were ever recorded.
Ivan the Ice Cream Man, Ulz's only album of original songs for adults, was released in 1970 on Stanyan Records, a label owned by self-styled poet Rod McKuen
Rod McKuen
Rod McKuen is an American poet, songwriter, composer, and singer. He was one of the best-selling poets in the United States during the late 1960s. Throughout his career, McKuen produced a wide range of recordings, which included popular music, spoken word poetry, film soundtracks, and classical music...
. Some of the supporting musicians who performed on Ice Cream Man went on to have successful careers of their own, including Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, Lowell George
Lowell George
Lowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
, Roy Estrada
Roy Estrada
Roy Estrada is an American musician and backing vocalist, best known for his bass guitar work with Frank Zappa and for co-founding Little Feat.-Biography:With drummer Jimmy Carl Black and Ray Collins, Estrada was an original member of Frank Zappa's...
, Jimmy "Guitar" Smith, and Dick Rosmini
Dick Rosmini
Dick Rosmini was an American guitarist, at one time considered the best 12-string guitarist in the world. He was best known for his role in the American "folk revival" of the 1960s...
. Although he did not perform on the album, legendary blues guitarist Steve Mann
Steve Mann (guitarist)
Steven Mann was an American songwriter and guitarist.-History:Mann broke onto the West Coast music scene in the 1960s. As a student at Valley State College in Los Angeles, Mann began to perform folk music at hootenannies and Los Angeles clubs like The Ash Grove and The Troubadour...
co-wrote two of the tracks on Ice Cream Man: "Beginning to Find My Way" and "Circles Under Squares."
In 1980, Ulz moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and changed his focus from folk rock to children's music. From 1997 to 1999, Ulz lived in Arroyo Grande, California
Arroyo Grande, California
Arroyo Grande is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 17,252 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Arroyo Grande is a small coastal town with historic, suburban, and rural elements located at...
, where he recorded an album of children's music and hosted a children's radio show called Treasure Ivan. Today Ulz splits his time between Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
and California's Central Coast, performing for toddlers and their families.
Songs
To date, Ulz has written around 200 songs, some of which have been recorded by Hoyt AxtonHoyt Axton
Hoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
, Glen Yarborough, Suzy Bogguss
Suzy Bogguss
Susan Kay "Suzy" Bogguss is an American country music singer. In the 1980s and 90s she released one platinum and three gold albums and charted six top ten singles, winning the Academy of Country Music's award for Top New Female Vocalist and the Country Music Association's Horizon Award.After...
, Valerie Carter
Valerie Carter
Valerie Carter to James J and Dorothy Carter, is an American singer-songwriter...
, Rod McKuen
Rod McKuen
Rod McKuen is an American poet, songwriter, composer, and singer. He was one of the best-selling poets in the United States during the late 1960s. Throughout his career, McKuen produced a wide range of recordings, which included popular music, spoken word poetry, film soundtracks, and classical music...
, and others. Ulz has co-written songs with Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
, Lowell George
Lowell George
Lowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
, Steve Mann
Steve Mann
Steven Mann , is a tenured professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto.-Education:...
, and others. Ulz's most famous song is Heartache, co-written with Lowell George and recorded by Suzy Bogguss in the 1990s. Bogguss's version of "Heartache" had considerable success on the country music charts. Most recently, Ulz's song Fire Truck! was published as a Sing-And-Read book by Scholastic. Fire Truck! is the only song that Ulz has written for children so far. Penned in 1990 on a red IBM Selectric typewriter
IBM Selectric typewriter
The IBM Selectric typewriter was a highly successful model line of electric typewriters introduced by IBM on July 31, 1961.Instead of the "basket" of individual typebars that swung up to strike the ribbon and page in a traditional typewriter, the Selectric had a type element that rotated and...
, the song has become an underground anthem among preschoolers across the nation.
Discography
Ulz is a BMIBroadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
writer, and is also a performer and recording artist. He has released the following recordings:
- A Letter to Hayley, 45 rpm Single, LarBell, 1962
- Ivan the Ice Cream Man, LP album, Stanyan, 1970
- Songs From the Old School, CD & cassette, Ivan Ulz Songs, 1999
A Letter to Hayley
Ulz's first song, A Letter to Hayley, was dedicated to the young EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress named Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills is an English actress. The daughter of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and sister of actress Juliet Mills, Mills began her acting career as a child and was hailed as a promising newcomer, winning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Tiger Bay , the Academy Juvenile Award...
who starred in "Tiger Bay," "Whistle Down the Wind," and various American movies made by Disney during the 1960s. In 2004, Ulz was finally introduced to Mills.