Larry Elgart was born in 1922 in New London, Connecticut, four years younger than his brother, Les. Their mother was a concert pianist; their father played piano as well, though not professionally. Both brothers began playing in jazz ensembles in their teens, and while young Larry played with jazz musicians such as Charlie Spivak, Woody Herman, Red Norvo, Freddie Slack and Tommy Dorsey.
In the mid-1940s, Les and Larry started up their own ensemble, hiring Nelson Riddle, Bill Finegan and Ralph Flanagan to arrange tunes for them. Their ensemble was not successful, and after a few years, they scuttled the band and sold the arrangements they had commissioned to Tommy Dorsey. Both returned to sideman positions in various orchestras.
In 1953, Larry met Charles Albertine and recorded two of his experimental compositions, "Impressions of Outer Space" and "Music for Barefoot Ballerinas". Released on 10" vinyl, these recordings became collector's items for fans of avant-garde jazz, but they were not commercially successful at the time. Larry and Albertine put together a more traditional ensemble and began recording them using precise microphone placements, producing what came to be known as the "Elgart sound". This proved to be very commercially successful, and Larry enjoyed a run of successful albums and singles in the 1950s.
In 1954, the Elgarts left their permanent mark on music history in recording Albertine's "Bandstand Boogie," for the legendary television show originally hosted by Bob Horn, and two years later, Dick Clark. Clark took the show national, to ABC-TV, in 1956 and remained host for another 32 years. Variations of the original surfaced as the show's theme in later years. Les and Larry reunited in 1963, but it would not last long. Les moved to Texas and performed for the rest of his life with The Les Elgart Orchestra while Larry continued to perform and record regularly for decades.
Larry's biggest exposure came in 1982, with the smash success of a recording called "Hooked on Swing". The instrumental was a medley of swing jazz hits - "In the Mood", "Cherokee", "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree", "American Patrol", "Sing, Sing, Sing", "Don't Be That Way", "Little Brown Jug", "Opus #1", "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" and "A String of Pearls" - that became so popular it even cracked the US Billboard Pop Singles chart (at #31) and Adult Contemporary chart (#20). This was the final hit for any artist in the year-long "medley craze," that lasted from 1981 to 1982. Billed as "Larry Elgart and His Manhattan Swing Orchestra," the LP from which the tune was taken hit #24 on the US charts. The follow-up, Hooked on Swing 2, debuted at #89 on the album charts, and soon after Larry was back to the jazz touring circuit. He continued to tour internationally and record into the 2000s.
April
Larry Elgart Lyrics
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We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
Alone where we have walked together
I'll remember April and be glad
I'll be content you loved me once in April
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
For flames live such a little while
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I'll remember April and smile
These lyrics describe the bittersweet beauty of a relationship that has come to an end. The singer reflects on a love that bloomed in April, a time of new beginnings and vibrant emotions. As the day turns into evening, they bid farewell to what they once shared. Despite the heartbreak, they find solace in the memories of their time together.
The first verse indicates that they were always together, walking side by side. The mention of being alone now suggests that they have parted ways. However, even in this solitude, the singer finds comfort in the nostalgia of April. This month symbolizes the start of their love story, when everything was fresh and full of hope. The singer expresses gratitude for having been loved in April, highlighting the warmth and excitement that their partner brought into their life.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges the passage of time and the changing seasons. They are not afraid of autumn, a metaphor for the challenges and sorrows that life brings. Despite the inevitable end of their relationship, they cling to the memories of April and the love that once blossomed. The closing lines of the song suggest a sense of acceptance and moving forward. The fire, once blazing with passion, will fade into glowing ashes, but the singer will not forget. They will remember April and find the strength to smile, embracing the happiness that was once theirs.
Overall, the lyrics of "April" by Larry Elgart & His Orchestra convey a poignant message about the power of memories and the ability to find solace in the past. Despite the end of a relationship, the singer holds onto the joy and warmth that April brought into their life. The song reminds us that even in times of heartbreak, the love we experienced and the memories we hold can still bring us comfort and a reason to smile.
Line by Line Meaning
This lovely day will lengthen into evening
The pleasant moments we are experiencing now will continue and extend until the day turns into night
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
We will express a bittersweet farewell to everything we have ever shared
Alone where we have walked together
In solitude, I will revisit the places where we used to stroll side by side
I'll remember April and be glad
I will hold memories of our time together in April close to my heart and find happiness in them
I'll be content you loved me once in April
I will find satisfaction in knowing that you once loved me during the month of April
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
Your affectionate kisses were comforting and conveyed the freshness and excitement of newfound love
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
I am not fearful of the arrival of autumn and the melancholy it may bring
For I'll remember April and you
Because I will always cherish the memories of April and our time together
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
The passion and intensity of our relationship will gradually fade away like embers in a fire
For flames live such a little while
Because flames of passion and desire tend to have a short lifespan
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
While I won't forget our love, I won't be consumed by loneliness
I'll remember April and smile
I will fondly recall our time in April and find joy in those memories
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL, PATRICIA JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind