Jack Kane (composer)
Encyclopedia
Jack Kane was a Canadian arranger
, conductor
, clarinetist, and composer
of English
birth. His 1958 recording Kane is Able was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra
. He was highly active as an arranger and music director for Canadian television during the 1950s. His career was cut short by his death from cancer
at the age of 36. The Canadian Encyclopedia
states, "At the time of his death, Kane was considered one of Canada's leading arrangers. He later was honoured by a Canadian Talent Library Trust LP of his big band arrangements, under the direction of Bert Niosi
."
, he was the son of British music-hall entertainer Barry Kane. In 1933 he moved with his family to Canada where he began appearing as a singer with his father in vaudeville
performances in Toronto at the age of 9. A year later he won a performance contest at the Roxy Theatre
.
In 1939 Kane entered the Toronto Conservatory of Music where he studied the clarinet with Herbert Pye through 1942. He began performing with the High Timers band in the early 1940s, making his radio debut with the group in 1941. From 1942-1945 he played in the band of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
and in 1945-1946 he led his own band, the Khaki Kollegians, which performed in entertainments for the Canadian Army.
After the end of World War II
, Kane resumed his musical studies with John Weinzweig
with whom he studied music composition from 1946-1948. During these years he composed his first concert works, including two interludes for woodwinds (1947) and a string quartet
(1948). He also actively performed with a number of orchestras associated with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
during the mid to late 1940s. In 1949 he was appointed assistant arranger-conductor to Howard Cable
at the CBC.
During the early 1950s, Kane began to compose his first larger orchestra
l works, such as Suite for Orchestra (1950), Concerto for Saxophone (1951), and a symphony
which he began but never finished. In 1950 he was appointed chief arranger for the CBC Radio
program Startime and in 1951 he was awarded the Maurice Rosenfeld Prize for promising newcomer to Canadian radio. He became actively involved as a music director for CBC Television
, serving in that capacity for such shows as On Stage
(1954), The Jackie Rae Show (1955), and Summertime '57'. He also worked as a music director in the United States during the late 1950s for CBS
and NBC
, using his talents for shows starring Eydie Gormé
, Steve Lawrence
, Ethel Merman
, and Andy Williams
.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Kane had his own orchestra with the CBC for which he arranged/composed much of their repertoire in addition to serving as the group's conductor. The ensemble played on their own show, the Jack Kane Show, and for other programs. The orchestra made several recordings; the first of which, Kane is Able, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra
. The orchestra's other recordings include: Jack Kane Salutes the Comics (1959), Jack Kane Salutes the Women of Show Business (1960), and Raisin' Kane (1961). Kane's discograph also includes recordings also made with Steve Allen
, Dorothy Collins
and Jane Harvey in the United States during the late 1950s.
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, clarinetist, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of English
England
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...
birth. His 1958 recording Kane is Able was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra
Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra
The Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra - Primarily Not Jazz or for Dancing was awarded from 1959 to 1964...
. He was highly active as an arranger and music director for Canadian television during the 1950s. His career was cut short by his death from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the age of 36. The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
states, "At the time of his death, Kane was considered one of Canada's leading arrangers. He later was honoured by a Canadian Talent Library Trust LP of his big band arrangements, under the direction of Bert Niosi
Bert Niosi
Bert Niosi was a Canadian bandleader, known as "Canada's King of Swing".-Biography:...
."
Life
Born John Kane in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he was the son of British music-hall entertainer Barry Kane. In 1933 he moved with his family to Canada where he began appearing as a singer with his father in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performances in Toronto at the age of 9. A year later he won a performance contest at the Roxy Theatre
Roxy Theatre (Saskatoon)
The Roxy Theatre is a movie theatre located in the Riversdale neighborhood of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Built during the onset of the Great Depression. The interior was decorated in a Spanish Villa style with the walls covered with small balconies, windows and towers that gave the...
.
In 1939 Kane entered the Toronto Conservatory of Music where he studied the clarinet with Herbert Pye through 1942. He began performing with the High Timers band in the early 1940s, making his radio debut with the group in 1941. From 1942-1945 he played in the band of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was a corps of the Canadian Army. Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers established the corps in 1903, making it the first independent Signal Corps in the British Empire...
and in 1945-1946 he led his own band, the Khaki Kollegians, which performed in entertainments for the Canadian Army.
After the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Kane resumed his musical studies with John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig, OC, O.Ont was a Canadian composer of classical music.Born in Toronto, Weinzweig went to Harbord Collegiate Institute, and studied music at the university. In 1937, he left for the United States to study under Bernard Rogers...
with whom he studied music composition from 1946-1948. During these years he composed his first concert works, including two interludes for woodwinds (1947) and a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
(1948). He also actively performed with a number of orchestras associated with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
during the mid to late 1940s. In 1949 he was appointed assistant arranger-conductor to Howard Cable
Howard Cable
Howard Reid Cable is a conductor, arranger, music director, composer, and radio and television producer.-Biography:...
at the CBC.
During the early 1950s, Kane began to compose his first larger orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l works, such as Suite for Orchestra (1950), Concerto for Saxophone (1951), and a symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
which he began but never finished. In 1950 he was appointed chief arranger for the CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
program Startime and in 1951 he was awarded the Maurice Rosenfeld Prize for promising newcomer to Canadian radio. He became actively involved as a music director for CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
, serving in that capacity for such shows as On Stage
On Stage (TV series)
On Stage is a Canadian music variety television series which aired on CBC Television from 1954 to 1955.-Premise:George Murray hosted this variety series for most of its run, with mid-1955 episodes hosted by Denny Vaughan and Joan Fairfax...
(1954), The Jackie Rae Show (1955), and Summertime '57'. He also worked as a music director in the United States during the late 1950s for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, using his talents for shows starring Eydie Gormé
Eydie Gormé
Eydie Gormé is an American singer, specializing, with her husband, Steve Lawrence, in traditional pop music, in the form of ballads and breezy swing. She has earned numerous awards, including the Grammy and the Emmy...
, Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence is an American singer and actor, perhaps best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as "Steve and Eydie"...
, Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
, and Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Kane had his own orchestra with the CBC for which he arranged/composed much of their repertoire in addition to serving as the group's conductor. The ensemble played on their own show, the Jack Kane Show, and for other programs. The orchestra made several recordings; the first of which, Kane is Able, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra
Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra
The Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra - Primarily Not Jazz or for Dancing was awarded from 1959 to 1964...
. The orchestra's other recordings include: Jack Kane Salutes the Comics (1959), Jack Kane Salutes the Women of Show Business (1960), and Raisin' Kane (1961). Kane's discograph also includes recordings also made with Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
, Dorothy Collins
Dorothy Collins
Dorothy Collins was a Canadian/American singer, actress, and recording artist. She was born Marjorie Chandler in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and adopted her stage name in her mid-teens.-Radio and TV:...
and Jane Harvey in the United States during the late 1950s.