Mancini was born Enrico Nicola Mancini in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the steel town of West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. His parents emigrated from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Mancini's father, Quinto, was a steelworker, who made his only child begin flute lessons at the age of eight. When Mancini was 12 years old, he began piano lessons. Quinto and Henry played flute together in the Aliquippa Italian immigrant band, "Sons of Italy". After high school, Mancini attended the renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York. In 1943, after roughly one year at Juilliard, his studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the army. In 1945, he participated in the liberation of a South German concentration camp.
Mancini recorded over 90 albums, in styles ranging from big band to classical to pop. Eight of these albums were certified gold by The Recording Industry Association of America. He had a 20 year contract with RCA Records, resulting in 60 commercial record albums that made him a household name composer of easy listening music.
Mancini's range also extended to orchestral and ethnic scores (Lifeforce, The Great Mouse Detective, Sunflower, "Tom and Jerry: The Movie", Molly Maguires, The Hawaiians), and darker themes ("Experiment In Terror," "The White Dawn," "Wait Until Dark," "The Night Visitor").
Mancini was also a concert performer, conducting over fifty engagements per year, resulting in over 600 symphony performances during his lifetime. Among the symphony orchestras he conducted are the London Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He appeared in 1966, 1980 and 1984 in command performances for the British Royal Family. He also toured several times with Johnny Mathis and with Andy Williams, who had sung many of Mancini's songs.[citation needed]
Mancini had experience with acting and voice roles. In 1994 he made a one-off cameo appearance in the first season of the sitcom series Frasier, as a call-in patient to Dr. Frasier Crane's radio show. Mancini voiced the character Al, who speaks with a melancholy drawl and hates the sound of his own voice, in the episode "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast?" Mancini also had an uncredited performance as a pianist in the 1967 movie Gunn, the movie version of the series Peter Gunn, the score of which was originally composed by Mancini himself.
Mancini was nominated for an unprecedented 72 Grammys, winning 20 Additionally he was nominated for 18 Academy Awards, winning four. He also won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for two Emmys.
Mancini won a total of four Oscars for his music in the course of his career.
Mancini died at the age of 70 in Beverly Hills/Los Angeles, California of pancreatic cancer. He was working at the time on the Broadway stage version of Victor/Victoria. At the time of his death, Mancini was married to singer Virginia "Ginny" O´Connor, with whom he had three children. Ginny Mancini went on to found the Society of Singers a non profit organization which benefits the health and welfare of professional singers worldwide. Additionally the Society awards scholarships to students pursuing an education in the vocal arts and holds the annual Ella Awards.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers(ASCAP) Foundation "Henry Mancini Music Scholarship" has been awarded annually since 2001.
Evergreen
Henry Mancini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old black magic that you weave so well
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
The same old witch craft when your eyes meet mine
Same old tingle that I feel inside
Then the elevator starts it ride
Down and down I go
Like a leaf caught in a tide
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name and I'm a flame
Flame, flame of desire
Only your kiss can put out the fire
Oh you're the lover I have waiting for
Your the mate that fate had me created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Down and down I go
Round and round I go
In a spin, lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
In a spin lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
In a spin lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name and I'm a flame
Flame, flame of desire
Only your kiss can put out the fire
Oh you are the lover I have waited for
Your the mate that fate had me created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Down and down I go
Round and round I go
In a spin, lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
The lyrics of "Old Black Magic" by Henry Mancini are all about the alluring power of love. The song speaks to how love can capture and captivate, even those who are trying to resist its pull. The first verse sets up the scene of the all-consuming magic of love. The singer talks about how the person they love has them "in its spell" and "weaves so well." The icy fingers up and down their spine represent the shivers and physical sensations that love can bring, and they feel this every time they look into their beloved's eyes. The second verse takes things up a notch by describing the desire and passion that love elicits. The singer describes how, when their lips meet, they spin and are consumed by the magic of love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Old Black Magic" speak to the overwhelming nature of love and the way that it can be both intoxicating and irresistible, even when we know we should stay away.
Line by Line Meaning
Old black magic has me in its spell
I am completely consumed by the powerful and mysterious force of love.
Old black magic that you weave so well
You have unmatched skills in casting spells of love on me.
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
The overwhelming emotions of love surge through me so strongly that I experience a physical response.
The same old witch craft when your eyes meet mine
The connection we share is so deep and magical that it feels like we have cast spells on each other with just a simple gaze.
Same old tingle that I feel inside
Every time we interact, I feel a familiar and irresistible sensation of love and desire.
Then the elevator starts it ride
The anticipation and excitement of being with you intensify and I feel as if I am on a thrill ride.
Down and down I go
My emotions and feelings for you dive deeper and deeper.
Round and round I go
I am caught in a cycle of love and desire, unable to break free.
Like a leaf caught in a tide
I am powerless to resist the overwhelming force of love that consumes me.
I should stay away but what can I do
Despite knowing the risks and dangers of pursuing this love, I cannot help but be drawn to you.
I hear your name and I'm a flame
Even the sound of your name sparks a passionate desire in me.
Flame, flame of desire
My love and desire for you burn with an intensity that cannot be quenched.
Only your kiss can put out the fire
The only thing that can satisfy my burning desire for you is your touch and your love.
Oh you're the lover I have waiting for
You are the perfect match for me, the one I have been searching for all my life.
Your the mate that fate had me created for
I believe that destiny has brought us together, that we are meant to be together forever.
In a spin, lovin' the spin I'm in
I am caught up in the whirlwind of love and desire, and I couldn't be happier.
Under the old black magic called love
This powerful, mysterious force that drives our passion is the ancient and mystical force of love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TANNER, JOE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Bradwellcommon
Surely no greater king has ever lived. No one with the love and kindness, strength and courage, of King Raam
@ineslynchneyra3232
Conmovedor! Maravilloso!!!
@felixbautista
Miles de gracias
@veganvocalist4782
So very touching 😊
@felixbautista
Thank you so much for listening.
@MrLinoventura
superbe.....merci à Mancini...et b.Streisand !
@felixbautista
Thank you so very much for listening.
@pedrojunior8635
+++++++ Beautifull,wonderful music, great composer, his best voice acting was by Barbara Straisand.
@felixbautista
Thank you so much for listening Pedro.
@Nildinha760
Wonderful and soft music! It filled my heart with a blessing peace. Thanks, dear Tito! Wanda.