Frank Chacksfield
Frank Chacksfield, born Francis Charles Chacksfield (May 9, 1914 - June 9, 1995) was a popular conductor in the "easy listening" style.
He was born in Battle, East Sussex, England and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following the second world war.
From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Read Full BioFrank Chacksfield, born Francis Charles Chacksfield (May 9, 1914 - June 9, 1995) was a popular conductor in the "easy listening" style.
He was born in Battle, East Sussex, England and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following the second world war.
From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the USA, which firmly established his reputation world-wide.
During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.
Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church. Though his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered. In the late '30s, when he was in his mid-20s, he was leading small musical bands in Britain. During World War II, he was assigned to the British Army entertainment unit, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.
In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called "The Tunesmiths" and won a contract with Parlophone Records. Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of "mood music" albums. His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino. His biggest hits, in both the UK and the US, were "Ebb Tide" and "Limelight."
Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first ever British entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, "All" by Patricia Bredin in 1957. Only because BBC musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s Chacksfield recorded a large number of instrumental recordings for Starborne Productions. The recordings were licensed for use by "Easy Listening" radio stations and functional music companies. The vast majority of these recordings were not made commercially available to the general public until 2007 by Starborne Productions.
He was born in Battle, East Sussex, England and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following the second world war.
From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Read Full BioFrank Chacksfield, born Francis Charles Chacksfield (May 9, 1914 - June 9, 1995) was a popular conductor in the "easy listening" style.
He was born in Battle, East Sussex, England and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following the second world war.
From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the USA, which firmly established his reputation world-wide.
During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.
Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church. Though his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered. In the late '30s, when he was in his mid-20s, he was leading small musical bands in Britain. During World War II, he was assigned to the British Army entertainment unit, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.
In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called "The Tunesmiths" and won a contract with Parlophone Records. Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of "mood music" albums. His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino. His biggest hits, in both the UK and the US, were "Ebb Tide" and "Limelight."
Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first ever British entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, "All" by Patricia Bredin in 1957. Only because BBC musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s Chacksfield recorded a large number of instrumental recordings for Starborne Productions. The recordings were licensed for use by "Easy Listening" radio stations and functional music companies. The vast majority of these recordings were not made commercially available to the general public until 2007 by Starborne Productions.
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Rob Luthier
a esta maravillosa canción la escuché cuando era muy chico, gracias a mis viejos! Una de las composiciones más hermosas del mundo por un gran maestro Frank Chacksfield. Gracias por publicar tanta buena música!
Tom Gray
I remember this version when i was a kid, then i grew up and life took me to school and to war and life, and I forgot about it. Now its one of those nostalgic things that brings me some great memories.
drfugawe
I discovered music on the radio at age 12, and fell in love with this (in those days, 1953, stuff like this was on the hit parade) The only radio in our home was in my father's '47 Lincoln Zephyr, and he let me go out there and listen for hours - what a guy.
8176morgan
I would have thought that a family that owned a 1947 Lincoln Zephyr would have been rich enough to have at least one in the home, or else your parents would have got one for your birthday instead of wearing down the battery of your dad's car.
Patrick Ney
That's a nice memory.
Frank
this song was background music in a Paul Newman movie-- "sweet bird of youth" - great tune , great era, great masterpiece, thank you Mr. Frank Chackfield- you're a genius !
Chip Cooper
I'm 59 in July 2013, and this song is one of those song that define nostalgia, that warm fuzzy feeling that comes from whatever generates it. It wasn't until about 10 years ago I realized that all the songs I heard from 5 years of age and before are what generate this nostalgia feeling. I've been on the hunt ever since. One of my "hearts" favorite songs.
José Luis Robles
Esta melodía jamás pasará de moda ,magnífica interpretacin
Noe Berengena
This morning I heard Chacksfield's orchestra performing "The Man that Got Away" on my Johnny Mandel station (Pandora Radio) and it completely floored me. I wish I had discovered his recordings earlier.
Chininha B
Thank you for sharing! So so BEAUTIFUL!! Great Frank Chacksfield!