He was born in the Corona section of the New York City borough of Queens. He began playing the piano when he was only seven years old. In 1927 he went to Columbia College, intending to become an electrical engineer, but as a sophomore switched to a music major. Without graduating, he left to become an arranger. In the early 1930s, he wrote a number of songs that got recorded; all 'hot' novelty numbers, including "Mouthful O'Jam", "Business In F" and "Business In Q".
In 1934 he started leading a band of his own at Earl Carroll's club in Hollywood, California. Bleyer's orchestra recorded for Brunswick Records, and one of the vocalists who worked with this orchestra was Johnny Mercer, who became better known as a songwriter and co-founder of Capitol Records.
He became musical director for Arthur Godfrey in 1946, serving in this role until 1953. Many close to Godfrey considered Bleyer's creativity and understanding of music to be pivotal to the success of Godfrey's radio and TV programs. And while Godfrey was known to be short-fused and controlling, he often deferred to Bleyer's judgment in the areas of presentation and production.
In 1952 he founded Cadence Records, whose first artist was Godfrey alumnus Julius La Rosa. Along with several instrumental hit singles of his own, Bleyer went on to sign many other artists who had performed on Godfrey's programs (including The Chordettes, one of whose members, Janet Ertel, became his wife).
In the fall of 1953, Godfrey dismissed La Rosa on the air and later claimed the young singer "lacked humility," doing his own popularity considerable damage. That same day, Godfrey fired Bleyer, claiming he was offended when Bleyer recorded Chicago radio personality Don McNeill, host of Don McNeill's Breakfast Club. This Godfrey-like show was based in Chicago and broadcast nationally, but its popularity was mainly in the Midwest and tailored to that audience. Always insecure, Godfrey felt McNeill, whose show had once been a competitor, was still in competition though Godfrey was the dominant personality of his generation. Godfrey later claimed when he confronted Bleyer and threatened to fire him from at least one of the three shows Godfrey hosted, the conductor shrugged and told him to do what he had to do.
Radio historian John Dunning has suggested, in On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, that Bleyer's relationship with Janet Ertel was also a factor in Godfrey's decision to fire him; Godfrey tried to enforce a no-dating policy among his cast and fired several who dated each other. After leaving the show, Bleyer never made a public comment about his days with Godfrey. The public furor that surrounded LaRosa's firing and, to a lesser extent, Bleyer's, began the unraveling of Godfrey's seemingly unstoppable dominance of radio and TV as Bleyer's career was just beginning to blossom. The loss of Bleyer's expertise in staging and production matters, where he served as an informal mentor to Godfrey despite their age differences, was detrimental to Godfrey's programs.
While LaRosa was unable to sustain his early successes, later Cadence artists included Andy Williams and the label's biggest act of all, The Everly Brothers whose hits such as "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie" were produced by Bleyer in Nashville with country studio musicians led by Chet Atkins. Bleyer circa 1963 was also the step father-in-law of Phil Everly. He had his own instrumental recording hits on the Cadence label as well. Don Shirley, who appeared on the label in 1955 with "Tonal Expressions". It became a Top 15 album in the spring of that year, reportedly selling more than 20,000 copies, a respectable debut for a jazz artist. Ironically, it was the only chart album Shirley was to enjoy, but his sales remained steady enough that he was with the label until it closed in 1964, cutting around a dozen long-play releases Don Shirley Discography.
Bleyer also had his limits to his tolerance for rock and roll. While he clearly, and correctly, viewed the Everlys as a commercially appealing, clean-cut act whose country-influenced harmonies could reach a vast following, he was not so tolerant of pioneer garage-rock guitarist Link Wray. In 1957, Bleyer reluctantly agreed to release his no-frills, roaring instrumental "Rumble" on Cadence in part due to his daughter's fascination with the song. Wray had a contract with Cadence, but in 1958 after he submitted a newly recorded album of similarly raw material recorded in Nashville, Bleyer was convinced the instrumental music was morally and musically inappropriate and shelved the album and canceled Wray's contract. The material wouldn't see the light of day for decades until it was acquired by the British Rollercoaster label.
Cadence had another major hit in 1962 with comic Vaughn Meader's album The First Family, which featured Meader's comedic sketches and his peerless impersonations of President John F. Kennedy. The album was an enormous seller, as was a followup, until Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
Cadence always maintained a small roster of artists. Other Cadence hits included 14 chart hits by Johnny Tillotson, 10 by The Chordettes, 4 by Lenny Welch, 2 by Don Shirley.
In 1964, Bleyer, who was unable to accept the changing pop music market at the dawn of the British Invasion era, sold the Cadence label and all its recordings (except for certain material—like the Link Wray album—he kept to himself) to Andy Williams who formed Barnaby Records to manage the Cadence catalog.
He moved with his wife Janet to her hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin where he died of the effects of Parkinson's disease in 1989.
Bleyer was a free-mason, member of St. Cecile Lodge No. 568, New York City.
Hernando's Hideaway
Archie Bleyer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A place where no one knows your face
A glass of wine, a fast embrace
It's called Hernando's Hideaway, ole
All you'll see are silhouettes
And all you'll hear are castanets
And no one cares how late it getsNot at Hernando's Hideaway, ole
At the Golden Fingerbowl or any place you go
You will meet your Uncle Max and everyone you know
But if you'll go the spot that I am thinkin' of
You will be free to gaze at me and talk of love
Just knock three times and whisper low
That you and I were sent by Joe
Then strike a match and you will know
You're in Hernando's Hideaway, ole
Just knock three times and whisper low
That you and I were sent by Joe
Then strike a match and you will know
You're in Hernando's Hideaway
Hernando’s Hideaway, a song by Archie Bleyer that was popular in the 1950s, is a tune about a secret club where people can escape the stresses of the outside world and indulge in different pleasures while being anonymous. The lyrics describe a mysterious place with a seductive atmosphere where patrons partake in a quick dance and a glass of wine with others whose faces remain obscured from view. The whole idea of this hideaway is to offer an untroubled evening where people can let go of their inhibitions and immerse themselves in the moment.
The author does a great job of creating an image of this romanesque place with minimal words. Through the use of metaphors such as “silhouettes” and “castanets,” he depicts the scene where everything is hidden in a grey area, giving the impression that those who inhabit this place are leaving behind the everyday monotony and losing themselves in the thrill nevertheless.
Moreover, the song implies that this secret club is an oasis than people can sneak away to enjoy some badly needed time to break free from the drudgery of their societal existence. The lyrics indicate that Hernando's Hideaway is a space where people can experience love, albeit just for a fleeting moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a dark secluded place
I am aware of a hidden spot that is isolated from everyone else.
A place where no one knows your face
It's a secret location that nobody knows about where you can remain anonymous.
A glass of wine, a fast embrace
You can indulge in wine while having a quick passionate moment with your significant other.
It's called Hernando's Hideaway, ole
This place goes by the name of Hernando's Hideaway.
All you'll see are silhouettes
The only thing you'll see are vague outlines of people and objects.
And all you'll hear are castanets
The only sound you'll hear is the rhythmic clacking sound of castanets.
And no one cares how late it gets
No one pays attention to what time it is and how late they stay.
Not at Hernando's Hideaway, ole
However, no one cares at this particular spot since it's Hernando's Hideaway.
At the Golden Fingerbowl or any place you go
Whether it's at the Golden Fingerbowl or any other location that you visit,
You will meet your Uncle Max and everyone you know
You'll come across your Uncle Max and every other acquaintance you have,
But if you'll go the spot that I am thinkin' of
However, if you decide to go to the place that I'm referring to,
You will be free to gaze at me and talk of love
You'll be able to admire me in peace and converse about love without any distractions.
Just knock three times and whisper low
To gain access, all you have to do is knock thrice and whisper quietly,
That you and I were sent by Joe
Mention that Joe sent the two of you.
Then strike a match and you will know
Afterward, light a match to signify your arrival.
You're in Hernando's Hideaway, ole
Upon doing so, you've successfully made it to Hernando's Hideaway.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Ross, Richard Adler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tracy120552
I know a dark secluded place.
A place where no one knows your face.
A glass of wine a fast embrace.
It's called Hernando's Hideaway ole!
All you see are silohuettes.
And all you hear are castanetts.
And no one cares how late it gets.
Not at Hernando's Hideaway ole!
:::Instrumental:::
At the golden fingerbowl or any place you go.
:::Instrumental:::
You'll meet your uncle Max and everyone you know.
:::Instrumental:::
But if we go to the spot that I am thinking of
You will be free, to gaze at me, and talk of love.
Just knock three times and whisper low, that you and I were sent by Joe.
Then Strike a match and you will know your in Hernando's Hideaway OLE!
:::Instrumental:::
I know a dark secluded place.
A place where no one knows your face.
A glass of wine a fast embrace.
It's called Hernando's Hideaway ole!
:::Instrumental:::
At the golden fingerbowl or any place you go.
:::Instrumental:::
You'll meet your uncle Max and everyone you know.
:::Instrumental:::
But if we go to the spot that I am thinking of
You will be free, to gaze at me, and talk of love.
Just knock three times and whisper low, that you and I were sent by Joe.
Then Strike a match and you will know your in Hernando's Hideaway OLE!
:::Instrumental:::
@laureanavazquez4474
❤!!!y los bellos recuerdos de nuevo tienen a mi gracias gracias por poder recordar y lindos y gratificante para el alma recordar es volver a vivir
@너를사랑해-v7r
탱고음악에 취해
늘 즐겨듣고 있습니다
감사합니다
@tebanvalencia5703
Mi papá la ponía cada que podía y cuando la encontré en YouTube la ponía cada que podía jaja hacia enojar a mi hermano ya que casi todo el día la escuchaba , te extraño mucho papá ...
@matthewtarka2804
when we were small,my aunt mary (chochi monka) was hi tech at the time,1960's,had the latest hi fi record player.... about a 4" tall base speaker....when it came to the knock on the door.....it scared the crap out of us.....as we were in front of the speaker,mary never married,took care of bobci well into her 90'S....marys brother was uncle joe....as in the song....good times.....wish I could turn back the clock.....still have the set up and the 78 record.....and it works!
@chuckf6163
That's awesome!
@davidbarnett9312
I have not heard this since I was elevenish and pop music ruled AM radio.
@LarryKwiatkoski
Me too ! With nuns yet....😮
@LarryKwiatkoski
I'm still stunned by nuns in Hernandos hide-a-way 😂 ole !!
@gladtobeopenminded
Perfect transfer from the 45 - great, great sound! Fun record!!!
@wblynch
I have this recording on 78. Love it