Stan Free
Encyclopedia
Stanley Free was a New York City
-based jazz
musician, composer, conductor and arranger.
Free was born in Brooklyn
in 1922, and received a classical musical education, studying with Alexander Siloti and also at the Juilliard School
. While still in his teens, he organized a combo (Stanley Friedland's Royal New Yorkers) that played the Catskills. He served as a staff sergeant in the Seventh Cavalry in World War II
, seeing combat in the Pacific.
Upon his return, he became active in many musical endeavors, including serving as musical director for one of the first live television variety/talk shows -- "Cafe De Paris" with Sylvie St. Clair, on WABD
, the old DuMont
channel in New York. The Stan Free Trio played in many of the intimate jazz spots that dotted New York in those days—The Composer, The Embers, The Living Room, and Hickory House to name a few. He was the featured performer for several summers at Herb McCarthy's Bowden Square in Southampton, Long Island
. He recorded several albums (now out of print) under his own name: "Free For All: The Stan Free Trio," "Piano A La Percussion" and "Stan Free Five: Would You Believe? Jazz Alive."
Free's best-known recording is not under his own name—it is the Moog
hit, "Popcorn
", with the artist listed as Hot Butter
, which was Free and five studio musicians. Stan toured and recorded with the First Moog Quartet, organized by Gershon Kingsley
. He also arranged and conducted for many performers, notably the jazz vocalist Chris Connor
(ChrisCraft), and the comedian Jack Carter
. He was also a studio musician
for many of the rock and pop groups of the 60's, including The Monkees
and The Association
. In 1979, Stan played percussion on the Broadway Show The Most Happy Fella
. Stan was a multi-talented musician, a charming raconteur, and a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He died in New York in August, 1995.
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...
-based jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician, composer, conductor and arranger.
Free was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in 1922, and received a classical musical education, studying with Alexander Siloti and also at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
. While still in his teens, he organized a combo (Stanley Friedland's Royal New Yorkers) that played the Catskills. He served as a staff sergeant in the Seventh Cavalry in 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...
, seeing combat in the Pacific.
Upon his return, he became active in many musical endeavors, including serving as musical director for one of the first live television variety/talk shows -- "Cafe De Paris" with Sylvie St. Clair, on WABD
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
, the old DuMont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
channel in New York. The Stan Free Trio played in many of the intimate jazz spots that dotted New York in those days—The Composer, The Embers, The Living Room, and Hickory House to name a few. He was the featured performer for several summers at Herb McCarthy's Bowden Square in Southampton, Long Island
Southampton (village), New York
Southampton is a village in Suffolk County, New York, USA. The village is named after the Earl of Southampton. The Village of Southampton is in the southeast part of the county in the Town of Southampton...
. He recorded several albums (now out of print) under his own name: "Free For All: The Stan Free Trio," "Piano A La Percussion" and "Stan Free Five: Would You Believe? Jazz Alive."
Free's best-known recording is not under his own name—it is the Moog
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
hit, "Popcorn
Popcorn (instrumental)
"Popcorn" is an early electronic pop instrumental, originally composed by Gershon Kingsley in 1969 on his album Music to Moog By. The same year this tune was released and recorded at Audio Fidelity Records label in New York City....
", with the artist listed as Hot Butter
Hot Butter
Hot Butter was an instrumental cover band fronted by the keyboard player Stan Free. The other band members were Dave Mullaney, John Abbott, Bill Jerome, Steve Jerome, and Danny Jordan. They are best known for their 1972 cover of the Moog synthpop instrumental, "Popcorn", originally recorded by its...
, which was Free and five studio musicians. Stan toured and recorded with the First Moog Quartet, organized by Gershon Kingsley
Gershon Kingsley
Gershon Kingsley a contemporary German American composer, is well known as a pioneer of electronic music and the Moog synthesizer and founder of the First Moog Quartet, as a partner in the famous electronic music duo Perrey and Kingsley, and for his rock-inspired compositions for Jewish religious...
. He also arranged and conducted for many performers, notably the jazz vocalist Chris Connor
Chris Connor
Chris Connor was an American jazz singer.-Biography:She was born as Mary Loutsenhizer in Kansas City, Missouri to Clyde and Mabel Loutsenhizer. She studied and became proficient on the clarinet, having studied for 8 years throughout junior high and high school...
(ChrisCraft), and the comedian Jack Carter
Jack Carter
Jack Carter may refer to:* Jack Carter, fictional character created by Ted Lewis** from the novels Jack's Return Home, Jack Carter's Law, and Jack Carter and the Mafia Pigeon** from the films Get Carter and Get Carter...
. He was also a studio musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
for many of the rock and pop groups of the 60's, including The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
and The Association
The Association
The Association is a pop music band from California in the folk rock or soft rock genre. During the 1960s, they had numerous hits at or near the top of the Billboard charts and were the lead-off band at 1967's Monterey Pop Festival...
. In 1979, Stan played percussion on the Broadway Show The Most Happy Fella
The Most Happy Fella
The Most Happy Fella is a 1956 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the play They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard...
. Stan was a multi-talented musician, a charming raconteur, and a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He died in New York in August, 1995.