Ralph Flanagan
Encyclopedia
Ralph Flanagan (April 7, 1914 in Lorain, Ohio
– December 30, 1995 in Miami, Florida
) was a famed big band leader, conductor, pianist, composer, and arranger for the orchestras of Hal McIntyre
, Sammy Kaye
, Blue Barron
, Charlie Barnet
, and Alvino Rey
.
During World War II
he served in the Merchant Marine from October 1942 to 1946. By 1949 he formed a very successful orchestra which is credited with re-popularizing the Glenn Miller
"sound," and which made many records, among them "Rag Mop" and "Hot Toddy." The Ralph Flanagan band was managed by Herb Hendler
, an RCA
A&R man who had signed Glenn Miller
to his final record contract before Miller's fatal plane crash in the English Channel
during World War II
. It was Hendler who had encouraged Flanagan to adopt the Miller sound that led to his success. Hendler also co-wrote "Hot Toddy," which was recorded by many artists, including Chet Atkins
, Rosemary Clooney
, Red Foley and Julie London
.
The Flanagan orchestra's theme songs were "Giannina Mia" and "Singing Winds", the latter title also applying to the orchestra's singing group.
He joined the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
in 1950, and his popular-song compositions include "Hot Toddy" and "Flanagan's Boogie."
During the peak of his career, he also lived in the suburban village of Malverne, New York
.
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
– December 30, 1995 in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
) was a famed big band leader, conductor, pianist, composer, and arranger for the orchestras of Hal McIntyre
Hal McIntyre
Hal McIntyre was an American saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader....
, Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
, Blue Barron
Blue Barron
Blue Barron , born Harry Freidman, was an American orchestra leader in the 1940s and early 1950s during the "Big Band" era....
, Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet
Charles Daly Barnet was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.His major recordings were "Skyliner", "Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffle".-Early life:...
, and Alvino Rey
Alvino Rey
Alvin McBurney , known by his stage name Alvino Rey, was an American swing era musician and pioneer, often credited as the father of the pedal steel guitar...
.
Biography
He was educated at Lorain High School, where he was a member of the National Honors Society, the student senate, the school newspaper staff (Hi-Y) and the chorus.During 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...
he served in the Merchant Marine from October 1942 to 1946. By 1949 he formed a very successful orchestra which is credited with re-popularizing the Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
"sound," and which made many records, among them "Rag Mop" and "Hot Toddy." The Ralph Flanagan band was managed by Herb Hendler
Herb Hendler
Herb Hendler was an American record producer and lyricist.He was director of A&R and sole producer at RCA Victor Records in the 1940s. He produced Perry Como's first hit records and signed Glenn Miller to his final contract...
, an RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
A&R man who had signed Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
to his final record contract before Miller's fatal plane crash in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
during 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...
. It was Hendler who had encouraged Flanagan to adopt the Miller sound that led to his success. Hendler also co-wrote "Hot Toddy," which was recorded by many artists, including Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
, Red Foley and Julie London
Julie London
Julie London was an American singer and actress. She was best known for her smoky, sensual voice. London was at her singing career's peak in the 1950s. Her acting career lasted more than 35 years...
.
The Flanagan orchestra's theme songs were "Giannina Mia" and "Singing Winds", the latter title also applying to the orchestra's singing group.
He joined the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization that protects its members' musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, whether via a broadcast or live performance, and compensating them...
in 1950, and his popular-song compositions include "Hot Toddy" and "Flanagan's Boogie."
During the peak of his career, he also lived in the suburban village of Malverne, New York
Malverne, New York
Malverne is a village in the town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 8,514 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
.
Royalties
As of August 19, 2010, Ralph Flanagan and his Orchestra were listed by EMI Music as a missing royaltor, which means that EMI have lost contact with the estate of Flanagan and his heirs and band members, and that royalty checks are being returned to the record company by the Post Office.Albums
- Ralph Flanagan
- Hot Toddy
- Let's Dance with Ralph Flanagan
- Let's Dance with Ralph Flanagan, Volume 2
- Big Band Sounds of Ralph Flanagan
- A Tribute to Glenn Miller
- At the Hollywood Palladium
- Always
- Dancing in the Dark
Singles
- The Blues/Love Is Here To Stay RCA Victor 47-4247 (From M-G-M's "An American In Paris") 1951
- Slow Poke/Charmaine RCA Victor 47-4373 1951
- Some Enchanted Evening/People Will Say We're in Love RCA 47-3174 (From Boxed Set WP268) 1949
- It Might As Well Be Spring/Surrey With The Fringe On Top RCA 47-3175 (From Boxed Set WP268 1949
- Oh What A Beautiful Mornin'/If I Loved You RCA 47-3176 (From Boxed Set WP268) 1949
- Stars And Stripes Forever/Giannina Mia RCA 47-3762 1950
- Dancing Tambourine/La Vie En Rose RCA 47-3889 1950
- Nevertheless/The Red We Got is The Red We Want RCA 47-3904 1950
- Baby Doll/A Rose and a Baby Ruth RCA 47-6719 1956
- Blacksmith Blues/Delicado RCA 47-4706 1952
- Dear Hearts and Gentle People/My Hero RCA 54-001 1949
- Lullaby Of Birdland/Did I Remember RCA 47-5741 1954
- Everytime I fall In Love/? RCA 47-4067 1951
- Hot Toddy/Where Or When RCA 61-7362 1953
- I Belong To You/? RCA 47-6023 1955
- Where Or When/When We're Alone (Penthouse Serenade) RCA 47-4013 (From Boxed Set WP308) 1951
- Giannina Mia/Joshua RCA 47-4014 (From Boxed Set WP308) 1951
- Hot Toddy/Serenade RCA 47-5095 1952
- I remember the Cornfields/Beautiful RCA 47-4008 1951
- I understand/? RCA 47-4724 1952
- Radar Love/? RCA 47-6525 1956
- Reverie In The Rain/? RCA 47-5591 1954
- Stop and Kiss Dance/? RCA 47-5361 1953
- Sweetheart of Sigma Chi/? RCA 47-6141 1955
- There's Nothing Like Love/? RCA 47-6224 1955
- Way Back Home/? RCA 54-0012
EPs
- Coral 65543 Let's Get Away From It All/Oh Look At Me Now/There I've Said It Again/Too Young
- RCA EPA537 A-Flat Swing/Gypsy Violin/Smoke Gets In Your Eyes/Why
- RCA EPA514 One Alone/?/?/?