Shangri-La (1946 song)
Encyclopedia
"Shangri-La" is a popular
song written by Carl Sigman
(lyricist), bandleader Matty Malneck
, and Robert Maxwell
in 1946
. The term comes from "Shangri-La," the hidden valley of delight in James Hilton's 1933 novel "Lost Horizon." The term "Shangri-La," especially in the 1930s and 1940s, was slang for heaven or paradise, and the song is about the joy of being in love.
Composer Maxwell's instrumental version (saxophone/organ lead with brass and rhythm) charted in 1964
. Other popular versions (with lyrics) were recorded by The Four Coins
in 1957
(#11 US) and by The Lettermen
in 1969
(#64 US).
Jackie Gleason
used "Shangri-La" on his 1950s-60s TV variety show
as theme music for his popular millionaire character Reginald van Gleason III.
The song was also used as the opening and closing theme of Radio City Playhouse
, a radio anthology series that aired in the late 1940s.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song written by Carl Sigman
Carl Sigman
Carl Sigman was an American songwriter.-Biography:Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his Bar exams to practice in the state of New York...
(lyricist), bandleader Matty Malneck
Matty Malneck
Matty Malneck was an American jazz violinist, violist and songwriter.Malneck's first professional gigs as a violinist began when he was age 16. He worked with Paul Whiteman from 1926 to 1937, and also recorded in the same period with Frank Signorelli, Frankie Trumbauer, Bix Beiderbecke, and...
, and Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell (songwriter)
Robert Maxwell is a harpist and songwriter, who wrote the music for two well-known songs: "Ebb Tide" and "Shangri-La ....
in 1946
1946 in music
- Events :*January 6 – A somewhat revised and streamlined revival of Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat opens on Broadway at the Ziegfeld Theatre, the same theatre at which the original production played back in 1927. This production features newly designed sets and costumes, new, more extended...
. The term comes from "Shangri-La," the hidden valley of delight in James Hilton's 1933 novel "Lost Horizon." The term "Shangri-La," especially in the 1930s and 1940s, was slang for heaven or paradise, and the song is about the joy of being in love.
Composer Maxwell's instrumental version (saxophone/organ lead with brass and rhythm) charted in 1964
1963 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles start a 5-day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, "Love Me Do".*January 4 – At Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Dalida receives a Juke Box Global Oscar for the year's most-played artist on juke boxes....
. Other popular versions (with lyrics) were recorded by The Four Coins
The Four Coins
The Four Coins were a popular vocal group, consisting of Jimmy Gregorakis, George Mantalis, and brothers George and Jack Mahramas. They were all of Greek heritage and came from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania...
in 1957
1957 in music
-Events:*January 5 – Renato Carosone and his band start their American tour in Cuba.*January 6 – Elvis Presley makes his final appearance on the The Ed Sullivan Show.*January 16 – The Cavern Club opens in Liverpool, UK....
(#11 US) and by The Lettermen
The Lettermen
The Lettermen are an American male pop music vocal trio. The Lettermen's trademark is close-harmony pop songs with light arrangements. The group started in 1959...
in 1969
1969 in music
-Events:Perhaps the two most famous musical events of 1969 were concerts. At a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, California, a fan was stabbed to death by Hells Angels, a biker gang that had been hired to provide security for the event...
(#64 US).
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
used "Shangri-La" on his 1950s-60s TV variety show
The Jackie Gleason Show
The Jackie Gleason Show is the name of a series of popular American network television shows that starred Jackie Gleason, which ran from 1952 to 1970.-Cavalcade of Stars:...
as theme music for his popular millionaire character Reginald van Gleason III.
The song was also used as the opening and closing theme of Radio City Playhouse
Radio City Playhouse
Radio City Playhouse was a live half-hour anthology series that aired on NBC from 1948 to 1950. Directed by Harry W. Junkin, the series presented original radio dramas regardless of the fame of the author, so long as they were considered 'good'...
, a radio anthology series that aired in the late 1940s.