The Poor People Of Paris
Les Baxter
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Browse piano sheets by Les Baxter on Zen Virtual Piano. Les Baxter was an arranger and conductor who studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory of Music before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. He was born in Mexia, Texas, and spent part of his childhood in Detroit. In Detroit he attended the local conservatory, where he was considered something of a prodigy. His birth in Mexia and his studies at Pepperdine College may point to a route through three different places. Baxter joined a young Mel Torme's Mel-Tones as a bass singer and vocal arranger. Capitol put Nat "King" Cole in front of a huge string ensemble, and Baxter was called in to arrange and conduct "Too Young." He also conducted Nelson Riddle's arrangement of "Mona Lisa." His vocal arranging with the Mel-Tones and his work for Capitol's string ensemble may suggest that voices and large ensembles both belong to his music. Baxter's exotic style drew on three sources: Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy for lush French impressionist harmony, Igor Stravinsky for striking orchestration, and Latin rhythms from Cuban bandleaders including Machito and Tito Puente. Baxter arranged the album Music Out Of The Moon, whose instruments were drums, bass, guitar, piano, choir, electric organ and theremin. Set beside the theremin on that album, the French impressionist harmony in his style shows a sound built from quite different ingredients. In 1956 Baxter was a guest on the Dorsey Brothers' television show, and his "Poor People Of Paris" was the number one record that week. Elvis Presley was the other musical guest that night. Baxter scored over one hundred films for American International Pictures. He received gold records and numerous other music and recording industry awards, topped the "best orchestra" polls, and was featured in his own TV special. Does the 1956 television guest spot, beside the films for American International Pictures, point to a career that moved between records, screens and orchestras? Because of a hectic schedule, Baxter said, he handed his compositions to orchestrators for arranging.
Browse piano sheets by Les Baxter on Zen Virtual Piano.
Les Baxter was an arranger and conductor who studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory of Music before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. He was born in Mexia, Texas, and spent part of his childhood in Detroit. In Detroit he attended the local conservatory, where he was considered something of a prodigy. His birth in Mexia and his studies at Pepperdine College may point to a route through three different places.
Baxter joined a young Mel Torme's Mel-Tones as a bass singer and vocal arranger. Capitol put Nat "King" Cole in front of a huge string ensemble, and Baxter was called in to arrange and conduct "Too Young." He also conducted Nelson Riddle's arrangement of "Mona Lisa." His vocal arranging with the Mel-Tones and his work for Capitol's string ensemble may suggest that voices and large ensembles both belong to his music.
Baxter's exotic style drew on three sources: Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy for lush French impressionist harmony, Igor Stravinsky for striking orchestration, and Latin rhythms from Cuban bandleaders including Machito and Tito Puente. Baxter arranged the album Music Out Of The Moon, whose instruments were drums, bass, guitar, piano, choir, electric organ and theremin. Set beside the theremin on that album, the French impressionist harmony in his style shows a sound built from quite different ingredients.
In 1956 Baxter was a guest on the Dorsey Brothers' television show, and his "Poor People Of Paris" was the number one record that week. Elvis Presley was the other musical guest that night. Baxter scored over one hundred films for American International Pictures. He received gold records and numerous other music and recording industry awards, topped the "best orchestra" polls, and was featured in his own TV special. Does the 1956 television guest spot, beside the films for American International Pictures, point to a career that moved between records, screens and orchestras? Because of a hectic schedule, Baxter said, he handed his compositions to orchestrators for arranging.
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Common questions
Les Baxter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory of Music, where he was considered something of a prodigy. He then moved to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College.
Les Baxter was called in to arrange and conduct "Too Young" when Capitol put Nat "King" Cole in front of a huge string ensemble. He also conducted Nelson Riddle's arrangement of "Mona Lisa."
Les Baxter's exotic style drew on Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy for harmony, Igor Stravinsky for orchestration, and Cuban bandleaders such as Machito and Tito Puente for Latin rhythms.
In 1956 Les Baxter appeared on the Dorsey Brothers' television show, and his "Poor People Of Paris" was the number one record that week. Elvis Presley was the other musical guest that night.