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.
Hatari!: Baby Elephant Walk : Hatari: Baby Elephant Walk
Henry Mancini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch the baby elephants go by
The beat is groovy
It's a brand new dance you ought to try
Come to the jungle and see the animal attraction
Baby elephants in action walk
See the big baboon beat on the bongo
Down in the Congo
All the swinging monkeys do this dance
Come to the jungle and see the animal attraction
Baby elephants in action walk
If you plan on joining a safari
Don't get dressed for going on a cruise
The thing to carry is an extra pair of dancing shoes
Come to the jungle and see the animal attraction
Baby elephants in action walk
The song "Baby Elephant Walk" by Henry Mancini transports the listener to a jungle movie set where baby elephants are walking by, captivating the audience with their cuteness and adorableness. The beat of the song is groovy, inviting listeners to dance along to the newest dance craze that has taken over the jungle. The song then takes us to the Congo where we see a big baboon beating on the bongo as the baby elephants advance, and all the swinging monkeys join in on the fun, doing this dance. Mancini invites his audience to come to the jungle and witness the animal attraction, particularly the baby elephants in action.
The lyrics compel the audience to experience an imaginary adventure, and to be a part of the animal kingdom. The song seems to highlight the playful and joyful characteristic of animals, particularly the baby elephants, and how it can be infectious to those around them. The lyrics encourage listeners to be a part of the fun, and to come prepared - not for a cruise, but with extra dancing shoes, if you plan on joining the safari.
Line by Line Meaning
Make believe you're in a jungle movie
Imagine you're in a film that takes place in a jungle setting
Watch the baby elephants go by
Observe the young elephants moving along
The beat is groovy
The rhythm is catchy and easy to dance to
It's a brand new dance you ought to try
This is a fresh, innovative style of dancing that you should attempt
Come to the jungle and see the animal attraction
Visit the wilderness and witness the appeal of the wildlife
Baby elephants in action walk
Young elephants moving while on display
See the big baboon beat on the bongo
Notice the large primate playing the percussion instrument
As the baby elephants advance
While the juvenile elephants move forward
Down in the Congo
Situated in the Congo region
All the swinging monkeys do this dance
All the playful primates take part in this routine
If you plan on joining a safari
If you intend on going on an animal exploration trip
Don't get dressed for going on a cruise
Do not dress as if you are voyaging on a ship
The thing to carry is an extra pair of dancing shoes
Ensure that you have additional footwear for festive movement
Come to the jungle and see the animal attraction
Experience the allure of the wildlife by venturing to the jungle
Baby elephants in action walk
Young elephants moving while on display
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HENRY MANCINI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@samborton6613
This song actually deserves a medal for being the most known least known song of all time.
@Tj7223
true, and wow, I've found my twin.
@samborton6613
Tj7223 Eyyyyyy
@beelzebumb
Ehhh, i bet there is a song less known
@benbrinton6315
nice
@user-df4zw7yb4v
No i heard it in my schools concert.
@masonwelsh9718
This song absolutely has the energy of a baby elephant
@TheGraveyardDog
I have no doubt!!
@trevordennis2631
Perfect song to kill your parents to. I think Danny and Arin might agree.
@BATTIS94
@@trevordennis2631 Jeez, enough with the Game Grumps.