Charles Leighton
Charles Leighton | |
---|---|
Born | June 24, 1921 |
Died | June 26, 2009 87) | (aged
Genres | Jazz, Classical |
Occupation(s) |
Harmonica player Recording engineer |
Instruments | harmonica |
Years active | 1940–2009 |
Labels | JAC Recording |
Charles Leighton (24 June 1921 – 26 June 2009) was an American virtuoso classical and jazz harmonica player who flourished from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s, then — after a hiatus while managing a recording studio that he co-founded — reemerged in the mid-1980s and continued to play publicly until his death.[1] He had been member of harmonica ensembles of international rank; he had performed as soloist; and he had recorded as studio musician for radio, television, and film.
Leighton, in the mid-1950s, founded a small, prolific recording studio — JAC Recording, Inc. — which was housed in his apartment on the eighth floor at 152 West 58th Street (Apartment 8D), Manhattan, New York. In the late 1950s, his studio hired Phil Ramone whom Leighton and other engineers from the studio mentored. Ramone, who attributes his first love of studio engineering to Leighton, went on to become one of the most prolific producers and recording engineers of pop music, jazz, and notably, rock n roll.
Career history
- Pre World War II
Charles Leighton, a native New Yorker, taught himself to play the harmonica at the age of twelve. At age sixteen (1937), Leighton began to tour the United States, playing in vaudeville theaters as lead harmonica with harmonica groups, including the Philharmonicas[2] and the Cappy Barra Harmonica Gentlemen.
During the early 1940s, Leighton worked in Hollywood, both in the studio and on screen, appearing in motion pictures for Columbia and RKO. During this time he also played country music on the radio with The Hollywood Barn Dance and The Hoagy Carmichael Show, and recorded with The Riders Of The Purple Sage, Merle Travis, Johnny Bond, and The Andrew Sisters.
- Post World War II
Leighton served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. After the war, he returned to New York and signed with USO Camp Shows and toured throughout Japan, Korea, and China, entertaining the Military. His harmonica trio — with Harry Halicki (né Harry Henry Halicki; 1920–2002) and Joe Pittello (né Joseph Anthony Pittello; 1920–2008), who he had met in the U.S. Coast Guard — made a hit with the war-born show "Tars and Spars." They performed with Henry Morgan, Paul Whiteman, and Kay Kyser.[3] After touring with the USO, Leighton returned to New York City to work as a studio musician playing on numerous radio and television commercials and recorded with entertainers that included Dean Martin, Dinah Shore, Harry Belafonte, Mitch Miller, Andre Kostelanetz, Clint Eastwood, Hugh Downs, Dionne Warwick.
- Mid 1950s
By the mid-1950s Leighton co-founded and operated a recording studio — JAC Recording, Inc. — giving up playing entirely. Years later a friend asked him to practice and record a harmonica transcription of a flute solo called Poem by Charles Griffes. Never having heard the piece and initially underestimating its difficulty, Leighton agreed to do it. He produced a studio recording and the exercise served as an impetus for embarking on a follow-up project which led to a full classical CD.[4]
Tuesdays at Charlie Leighton's
For nearly 30 years, up until just before his death, Leighton hosted jam sessions at his 8th floor apartment every Tuesday at 3 PM. He called it Leighton's Leightons. Members included Charles Spranklin (Charles Edward Spranklin; born 1932), William Galison, Randy Weinstein, Stan Harper, Stanley Silverstone, Gregoire Maret, Phil Caltabelotta, and Rob Paparozzi.
Selected discography
- As soloist, classical
- Classical, Charles Lieghton (chromatic harmonica), Don Smith (piano)
- Reissued by Mega Mouth Records (2000); OCLC 50112301 LCCN 2002-576514
- Originally 2 albums, recorded in 1983 and 1985
- "Mazurka" (Opus 13), Frédéric Chopin
- "The little shepherd," Claude Debussy
- "Après un rêve," Gabriel Fauré
- "Afternoon of a faun," Claude Debussy
- "Second prelude," George Gershwin
- "Poem," Charles Griffes
- "Liebesfreud," Fritz Kreisler
- "Syrinx," Claude Debussy
- "Flute sonata," Paul Hindemith †
- "Forlane," Maurice Ravel
- "Vocalise," Sergei Rachmaninoff
- "Requiem for Tabby Andriello"[lower-roman 1]
- † Transcribed by Leighton
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- As soloist, jazz
- Angel Eyes, featuring Charles Leighton on chromatic harmonica and Ted Simon on piano, Mega Mouth Records (2001)
- "Angel Eyes"
- "Bossa
- "Yesterdays"
- "I Can't Give You Anything But Love"
- "Ghost Of A Chance"
- "Watch What Happens"
- "I'm In The Mood For Love"
- "In A Sentimental Mood"
- "Charley's Tune"
- "I Understand"
- "Tapioca"
- "Someone To Watch Over Me"
- "Tin Roof Blues"
- "Sophisticated Lady"
- "Sugar Blues"
- "For All We Know"
- "St Louis Blues," from the Hoagy Carmichael Radio Broadcast (1944)
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- As guest soloist, jazz
- Angel on a Harp, featuring Susan J. Rosenberg on chromatic harmonica and vocals
- Gene Bertoncini (guitar), Lou Pallo (guitar), Paul Nowinsky (bass), Alan Ferante (guitar), Greg Packham (bass guitar), Charles Leighton (guest chromatic harmonica player on one track)
- "Time After Time" (Leighton trades solos with Rosenberg)
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- As sideman
- Herb Shriner on Stage, Herb Shriner's Harmonica Orchestra, Columbia (1955); OCLC 13809015
- Musicians: Dominic (Don Henry) Quagenti, Cham-Ber Huang (1925–2014), Charles Leighton, Frank (Moose) Mitkowski, Victor Pankowitz (né Victor Paulukewich; 1919–2000), Alan Pogson (né Joseph Alan Pogson; 1915–2006), Alan (Blackie) Schackner (né Irving Schackner; 2013–2013)
- "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," Columbia 40555 (78 rpm) (1955) OCLC 81425620
(matrix CO53621-1A)
- "Back Home Again in Indiana," Columbia OCLC 13809015
- Recorded in New York, Aug. 13-15, 1957.
- Musicians: Charles Leighton, Alan (Blackie) Schackner (né Irving Schackner; 2013–2013), Alan Pogson (né Joseph Alan Pogson; 1915–2006), Michael Chimes (1914–1970) (harmonicas); Eddy Manson (né Eddy Lawrence Manson; 1919–1996) (leader & arranger)
- Dionne Warwick Sings Cole Porter, Arista Records (1990) OCLC 756393510, 459220228, 874770286
- Musicians include Robbie Kondor, Joe Mardin, Rob Mounsey, Clint de Ganon, Wayne Pedziwiatr, Jeffrey Mironov, Lou Marini, Charles Leighton
- Not that different, featuring Natalie Douglas (vocal), Wrong Black Girl Productions, New York, New York (1999) OCLC 51449645
- Recorded at Sorcerer Sound, New York City
- Musicians: Natalie Robinson-Whylie, Black Tie (background vocals), Ori Kaplan (saxophone), Mark Hartman (accordion, piano, synthesizer), Charley Leighton (harmonica), Elliot Peper (drums, bongos, conga), Terry Silverlight (drums), Bill Morgan (tambourine), Stephen Bocchino (1951–2013) (piano), John Merrill, Ron Zebeski (guitars), Tom Abbs (bass)
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- As part of compilations, collections
- Inspiration: 22 Rare Harmonica Performances, Universal: EmArcy Records (2005) OCLC 717415778, 420881956
- "Second prelude," by George Gershwin, performed by Charles Leighton
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- Singles available via streaming on the internet
- Jazz Music Library, part of Music Online: Listening PLUS, Alexander Street Press LLC, Alexandria, Virginia[5]
- From the Album, Marlene Van Planck loves Johnny Mercer OCLC 13654486, 593764868
- All lyrics by Johnny Mercer; musicians: Marlene VerPlanck, Tony Monte, Bucky Pizzarelli, Milt Hilton, Butch Miles (drums), Charlie Leighton, Brian Koonin, George H Buck
- First session recorded at JAC Recording, New York, New York, September 1978, published and distributed by Audiophile Records (1979)
- "I Remember You," by Victor Schertzinger
- "That Old Black Magic," by Harold Arlen
- "Early Autumn," by Ralph Burns & Woody Herman
- "Hit the Road to Dreamland," by Harold Arlen
- "Skylark," by Hoagy Carmichael
- "Any Place I Hang My Hat is Home," by Harold Arlen
- "Fools Rush In," by Rube Bloom
- "Day In, Day Out," by Rube Bloom
- "Let s Take the Long Way Home," by Harold Arlen
- "I'm Old Fashioned," by Jerome Kern
- "Jeepers Creepers," by Harry Warren
- "Midnight Sun," by J. Francis Burke & Lionel Hampton
- "Something s Gotta Give"
- "I Thought About You," by Jimmy Van Heusen
- "Out of This World," by Harold Arlen
- "P.S. I Love You," by Gordon Jenkins
- Second session recorded at Rockland Studio, New York, New York, August 2, 1988
- "I Remember You," by Victor Schertzinger
- "How Do You Say Auf Wiedersehn?," by Tony Scibetta
- "Charade," by Henry Mancini
- "Love s Got Me In A Lazy Mood," by Eddie Miller
- "That Old Black Magic," by Harold Arlen
- "Summer Wind," by Henry Meyer (Heinz Meier)
- "My Shining Hour," by Harold Arlen
Videos of Charles Leighton playing harmonica
- Flight of the Bumble Bee; Cappy Lafell (born Leon S. Lehrfeld; 1913–2002), soloist; Leighton is part of the ensemble on YouTube
- Cappy Barra Boys Harmonica Quartet on YouTube from the 1945 film, Rockin' in the Rockies
- Tuesdays at Charlie Leighton's on YouTube with Will Galison, Charlie Spranklin, Randy Weinstein, and Rob Paparozzi, produced by the BBC
Filmography
- As membger of the Cappy Barra Boys Harmonica Quartet
- Rockin' in the Rockies (1945)
- Radio Stars on Parade (1945)
Audio books
- Sounder, by William H. Armstrong, Newberry Award Records (1970); OCLC 3591362, 221519089
- Charles Leighton (harmonica)
- Peter Fernandez (director)
Selected studio engineering
Leighton engineered and mixed countless studio recordings , including:
- For Stash Records
- Widespread Depression Orchestra, Time To Jump And Shout, ST-212 (1981); OCLC 6360561
- Recorded and mixed 1981 at JAC Recording Studios
- Joe Newman Quartet, In A Mellow Mood, ST-219 (1962); OCLC 42551079
- Private party, New York, 1962
- Recorded January 1981, JAC Recording Studios, New York City
- Famous Door Records, Harry Lim Recordings (Flushing)
- George Masso Sextet, A Swinging Case Of Masso-Ism, HL 138 (1981); OCLC 8998706
- Recorded February 1981, JAC Recording Studios, New York City
- Bill Watrous Quartet, Roaring Back Into New York, New York, HL 144 (1983)
- Recorded July 1982, JAC Recording Studios, New York City
Publications
- Charles Leighton, Introduction to Jazz for the Chromatic Harmonica (book & audio tape), arranged and accompanied by Ted Simons on piano, The F & R Farrell Company (publisher & distributor),[lower-roman 2] Grove City, Ohio (internet & mail-order harmonica retailer, now out of business) (1990) — An audio tape has harmonica alone on one side and harmonica with piano on the other side
Family
Charles Leighton was married to Rosanne G. "Ro" Leighton (née Fingeroth; 1928–2002). They had no children.
References
- Notes
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- Inline citations
- ↑ Studio Stories: How the Great New York Records Were Made: From Miles to Madonna, Sinatra to the Ramones, by Dave Simons, Backbeat Books (2004), pg. 59; OCLC 57543979 ISBN 0879308176
- ↑ Harmonicas, Harps, and Heavy Breathers: The Evolution of the People's Instrument, by Kim Field, First Cooper Square Press (2000), pps. 9, 15–16, 59–60, 84, 85, 90, 239, 243–244 (bio), 255–256, 286, 299, 314, 342; OCLC 28292843 (1993 ed.)
- ↑ "Theater," by George Alexander Currie (1894–1953), Brooklyn Eagle, August 18, 1949, pg. 4
- ↑ "Biography of Charles Leighton," liner notes by Cathi Anne Norton (born 1949), from the CD, Angel Eyes, featuring Leighton on harmonica, Mega Mouth Records (c/o Susan J. Rosenberg, née Lavit; born 1949), Bridgeport, Connecticut (2001)
- ↑ "Marlene Van Planck" Alexandria, Virginia: Alexander Street Press (dead link Dec 23, 2014)