Henry Mancini (April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an Academy Award-winning… Read Full Bio ↴Henry Mancini (April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an Academy Award-winning American composer, conductor and arranger. He is remembered particularly for being a composer of film and television scores - his best-known works are the jazz-idiom theme to The Pink Panther film series and Moon River. Mancini won a record number of Grammy awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.

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.

The Sound of Silence
Henry Mancini Lyrics

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Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
In restless dreams I walked alone

Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets

Are written on the subway walls

And tenement halls."
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.

Overall Meaning

"The Sound of Silence" by Henry Mancini is a haunting and introspective song that delves into themes of isolation, communication breakdowns, and societal disconnect. The opening lines, "Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again," set the tone for a conversation with oneself, with darkness symbolizing a companion or a state of mind that is familiar and comforting. The singer acknowledges a vision that has planted seeds in their mind, hinting at a sense of unease or introspection that has surfaced while they were sleeping. This vision continues to linger within the sound of silence, emphasizing the power of quiet reflection and contemplation.

The imagery of the narrow streets of cobblestone and the halo of a street lamp evokes a sense of loneliness and desolation in the singer's restless dreams. The contrast between people talking without speaking and hearing without listening highlights a lack of genuine communication and understanding in society. The singer feels like their attempts to reach out and connect with others are futile, as their words are likened to silent raindrops falling and echoing in the wells of silence. This feeling of being unheard and unseen amplifies the theme of isolation and the struggle to break through the barriers of societal silence.

The reference to silence growing like a cancer emphasizes the destructive nature of unspoken truths and unaddressed issues. The singer feels compelled to break this silence and share their wisdom with others, but they are met with resistance and indifference. The mention of a "neon god" and the warning flashing from a sign suggest a society fixated on superficialities and distractions, further disconnecting individuals from meaningful connection and reflection. The words of prophets are ignored and overshadowed by the messages plastered on subway walls and in tenement halls, symbolizing a society that prioritizes noise over true wisdom and insight.

Overall, "The Sound of Silence" delves into the complexities of modern communication, the struggle for authentic connection, and the consequences of societal silence. The song paints a poignant picture of a world where voices are drowned out, truths are ignored, and individuals are left to navigate the darkness of their own thoughts and reflections. Through its evocative lyrics and melancholic melody, the song prompts listeners to reflect on the importance of breaking through silence, listening intently, and seeking genuine connection in a world that often prioritizes noise and distraction over meaningful dialogue.

The Sound of SilenceHenry Mancini Lyrics

The Sound of Silence
Henry Mancini Lyrics