Tracy Sugarman
Encyclopedia
Tracy A. Sugarman is an American illustrator. He has illustrated hundreds of books and record covers in a career lasting over 50 years. He authored an annotated work on his sketches from World War II
.
Following his service in the U.S. Army in World War II, Sugarman moved to Connecticut
, USA and embarked on a career in illustration. He has illustrated books and articles for more than 50 years, including numerous children's books.
He is also an illustrator of record covers, primarily for Waldorf Music Hall Records
/Grand Award Records
. The early ten inch records on Waldorf Music Hall are apparently also designed by him. The later covers on Grand Award use his illustrations in the middle of a frame design. Many illustrations from the earlier series reappear on the later records. Apparently no book on record cover design includes any Sugarman covers, but they are nevertheless a unique and beautiful body of work. He designed more than 100 covers in the years 1950-1959. Perhaps the best known are the covers for albums by "Knuckles O'Toole", a ragtime piano player made up by the Grand Award company. The real pianist is either Billy Rowland or Dick Hyman
. These have been reissued on CD with the original covers on Siggnal Sounds records.
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...
.
Following his service in the U.S. Army in World War II, Sugarman moved to Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, USA and embarked on a career in illustration. He has illustrated books and articles for more than 50 years, including numerous children's books.
He is also an illustrator of record covers, primarily for Waldorf Music Hall Records
Waldorf Music Hall Records
Waldorf Music Hall Records was a budget record label, which made records exclusively sold in Woolworth stores. It was started in 1953 by Enoch Light and sold in October 1959 to ABC-Paramount Records....
/Grand Award Records
Grand Award Records
Grand Award Records was a record label associated with ABC-Paramount RecordsGrand Award began life as Waldorf Music Hall records in the early 1950s. Waldorf Music Hall records carry a logo "FDR" in a diamond on their front covers, which might mislead some into believing that was the label name....
. The early ten inch records on Waldorf Music Hall are apparently also designed by him. The later covers on Grand Award use his illustrations in the middle of a frame design. Many illustrations from the earlier series reappear on the later records. Apparently no book on record cover design includes any Sugarman covers, but they are nevertheless a unique and beautiful body of work. He designed more than 100 covers in the years 1950-1959. Perhaps the best known are the covers for albums by "Knuckles O'Toole", a ragtime piano player made up by the Grand Award company. The real pianist is either Billy Rowland or Dick Hyman
Dick Hyman
Richard “Dick” Hyman is an American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer, best-known for his versatility with jazz piano styles. Over a 50 year career, he has functioned as pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and, increasingly, as composer...
. These have been reissued on CD with the original covers on Siggnal Sounds records.