Baxter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. Abandoning a concert career as a pianist, he turned to popular music as a singer. At the age of 23 he joined Mel Tormé's Mel-Tones, singing on Artie Shaw records such as "What Is This Thing Called Love?".
Baxter then turned to arranging and conducting for Capitol Records in 1950, and was credited with the early Nat King Cole hits, "Mona Lisa" and "Too Young", but both were actually orchestrated by Nelson Riddle.[1] (In later releases of the recordings the credit was corrected to Riddle.[citation needed]) Not a uncommon practice these days: Baxter himself had arranged Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy" in 1947 for a recording conducted by Frank De Vol. In 1953 he scored his first film, the sailing travelogue Tanga Tika. With his own orchestra, he released a number of hits including "Ruby" (1953), "Unchained Melody" (1955) and "The Poor People Of Paris" (1956). The latter recording sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[2]He also achieved success with concept albums of his own orchestral suites: Le Sacre Du Sauvage, Festival Of The Gnomes, Ports Of Pleasure, and Brazil Now, the first three for Capitol and the fourth on Gene Norman's Crescendo label. The list of musicians on these recordings includes Plas Johnson and Clare Fischer.
Baxter also wrote the "Whistle" theme from the TV show Lassie.
Baxter did not restrict his activities to recording. As he once told Soundtrack! magazine, "I never turn anything down".
In the 1960s, he formed the Balladeers, a besuited and conservative folk group that at one time featured a young David Crosby.[citation needed] He operated in radio as musical director of The Halls of Ivy and the Bob Hope and Abbott and Costello shows.
Like his counterparts Henry Mancini, Lalo Schifrin and James Horner, Baxter later worked for the film industries from 1960s to 70s. He worked on movie soundtracks for American International Pictures where he composed and conducted scores for Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe films and other horror stories and teenage musicals, including The Pit and the Pendulum, Panic in Year Zero!, Beach Party, The Comedy of Terrors,The Dunwich Horror, and Frogs. Howard W. Koch recalled that Baxter composed, orchestrated, and recorded the entire score of The Yellow Tomahawk (1954) in a total of three hours for $5,000.[3]
With less soundtrack work in the 1980s, he scored music for theme parks and SeaWorlds. In the 1990s, Baxter was widely celebrated, alongside Martin Denny and the Arthur Lyman Group, as one of the progenitors of what had become known as the "exotica" movement. In his 1996 appreciation for Wired magazine, writer David Toop remembered Baxter thus:
"Baxter offered package tours in sound, selling tickets to sedentary tourists who wanted to stroll around some taboo emotions before lunch, view a pagan ceremony, go wild in the sun or conjure a demon, all without leaving home hi-fi comforts in the white suburbs".
Baxter has a motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6314 Hollywood Blvd.
Rio
Les Baxter and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whadda they do when there is no starry sky?
Where do they go when they can't go for a walk?
Do they sit at home and talk,
Or do they sit and sigh, ""Aye Aye!""?
Where do they woo on a rainy night in Rio?
How can a guy meet a sweetheart by the sea?
How tender can you get
When you're beneath a wet palm tree?
Whadda they do in Mississippi
When skies are drippy?
And whadda they do when it's murky
In Alberquerque?
And whadda they do in Old Arkoona
When the moon above ain't bright?
Well, that's what they do in Rio
On a rainy night!
But whadda they do when skies are dreary
Along Lake erie?
And whadda they do in St Louis
When nights are dewy?
And whadda they do in Colorado
When a shadow dims the light?
Well, that's what they do in Rio
On a rainy night!
Yes, that's what they do in Rio
On a rainy night!
The lyrics of "Rio" by Les Baxter and His Orchestra paint a vivid picture of what people do on rainy nights in Rio de Janeiro and compare it to other locations. The song muses on the activities and romantic encounters that might take place in different cities around the world when the weather is less than ideal. The repetition of the question "Whadda they do on a rainy night in Rio?" sets the tone of curiosity and wonder about how people spend their time during inclement weather.
The lyrics suggest a sense of longing and romance, questioning whether those in Rio sit at home and talk or sigh on rainy nights. The imagery of rainy nights by the sea and beneath wet palm trees evokes a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The mention of wooing and tender kisses adds a layer of sensuality to the song, portraying a scene of potential romance amid the rainy backdrop.
The song then shifts its focus to other locations such as Mississippi, Albuquerque, and Old Arkoona, continuing to ponder how people might pass the time when the weather is gloomy. By comparing different cities and their rainy night activities to Rio, the lyrics highlight the uniqueness and charm of the Brazilian city's culture and atmosphere. The repetition of the question "Whadda they do..." creates a rhythm that adds to the playful and inquisitive nature of the song.
In the final verses, the lyrics return to Rio, emphasizing that the activities and mood on rainy nights in the city are distinct and memorable. As the song comes to a close, the repeated affirmation that "that's what they do in Rio on a rainy night" reinforces the idea that there is something special and enchanting about how people in Rio navigate the rainy weather. Overall, the lyrics of "Rio" offer a whimsical exploration of human behavior and romance in different settings, ultimately celebrating the magic of rainy nights in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro.
Line by Line Meaning
Whadda they do on a rainy night in Rio?
What activities or pastimes unfold amidst the drizzly ambiance of Rio's nightlife?
Whadda they do when there is no starry sky?
What do people engage in when the romantic splendor of the heavens is obscured?
Where do they go when they can't go for a walk?
What alternative venues or pursuits do individuals choose when outdoor strolls are unfeasible?
Do they sit at home and talk,
Do they remain indoors, sharing conversations as a form of companionship?
Or do they sit and sigh, 'Aye Aye!'?
Or do they express their discontent or longing with a resigned exclamation, indicating a sense of wistfulness?
Where do they woo on a rainy night in Rio?
In what places do individuals pursue romance even under the gloomy skies of Rio?
How can a guy meet a sweetheart by the sea?
What are the possibilities for a man to encounter love near the ocean despite the unfavorable weather?
Maybe the girl wants a tender kiss, and yet,
Perhaps the woman yearns for a gentle, affectionate gesture of intimacy, however,
How tender can you get
What depth of affection can one truly express?
When you're beneath a wet palm tree?
When the surroundings are dampened by rain and nature's elements complicate romantic gestures?
Whadda they do in Mississippi
What forms of entertainment or respite do people seek in Mississippi during inclement weather?
When skies are drippy?
When the atmosphere is characterized by persistent rainfall and bleakness?
And whadda they do when it's murky
What activities are engaged in when visibility is low and conditions become unclear?
In Alberquerque?
Specifically, how do residents in Albuquerque navigate such conditions?
And whadda they do in Old Arkoona
What pastimes or routines do inhabitants of Old Arkoona adopt?
When the moon above ain't bright?
When the night sky offers little illumination due to the absence of a luminous moon?
Well, that's what they do in Rio
Ultimately, the essence of entertainment or romance during Rainy nights can be encapsulated in the unique experiences of Rio.
On a rainy night!
Concisely, it encapsulates the theme of revisiting familiar comforts during wet and gloomy nocturnal hours.
But whadda they do when skies are dreary
What actions or responses are seen when the weather is bleak and uninviting?
Along Lake Erie?
Particularly, how do those near Lake Erie cope when nature's mood sours?
And whadda they do in St Louis
How do the people of St. Louis spend their time in similar weather conditions?
When nights are dewy?
What activities are preferred when the evenings are marked by moisture and coolness?
And whadda they do in Colorado
What do Coloradans partake in when the climate adds a layer of obscurity?
When a shadow dims the light?
When the gentle sun is hidden, casting a pall over the vibrancy of the day?
Well, that's what they do in Rio
Again, it reflects the singular charm found in Rio during such weather patterns—differentiating their experiences from other places.
On a rainy night!
It brings focus back to the overarching theme of embracing life’s nuances despite the unkind weather.
Yes, that's what they do in Rio
Affirmatively, it reinforces the idea that Rio has a unique approach to coping with rainy nights.
On a rainy night!
It emphasizes once more the enchanting or challenging character of evenings marred by rain in Rio.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR SCHWARTZ, LEO ROBIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind