He was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily, Italy. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settled in Santa Rosa, California. He began his career in music playing the baritone horn, like his father, but he quickly branched out into other instruments, notably the French horn and the piano. He received a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State College, and then went on to study composition with Darius Milhaud at Mills College in Oakland, California and earn his master's degree.
After he graduated, he was hired as an arranger and composer by guitarist and bandleader Johnny Richards. He spent World War II playing with altoist Paul Desmond in an army band.
After WWII, Rugolo worked for Stan Kenton, who headed one of the most musically 'progressive' big bands of the era. Rugolo provided arrangements and original compositions that drew on his knowledge of 20th century music, sometimes blurring the boundaries between jazz and classical music.
While Rugolo continued to work occasionally with Kenton in the 1950s, he spent more time creating arrangements for pop and jazz vocalists, including June Christy, Peggy Lee, the Four Freshmen, and Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole, and Miles Davis. During this period he also worked for a while on film musicals at MGM, and served as an A&R director for Mercury Records in the late 1950s. Among his many albums were Adventures in Rhythm, Introducing Pete Rugolo, Rugolomania, Reeds in Hi-Fi and Music for Hi-Fi Bugs.
In the 1960s and 1970s Rugolo did a great deal of work in television, contributing music to a number of popular shows including Leave It to Beaver, Thriller, The Fugitive, Run For Your Life, Felony Squad, The Challengers, The Bold Ones: The Lawyers and Family. He also provided scores for a number of TV movies and a few theatrical features. Rugolo's small combo jazz music featured in a couple of numbers in the popular movie Where The Boys Are, under the guise of Frank Gorshin's "Dialectic Jazz Band." While his work in Hollywood often demanded that he suppress his highly original style, there are some striking examples of Rugolo's work in both TV and film. The soundtrack for the last movie on which he worked, This World, Then the Fireworks (1997), demonstrates his gift for writing music that is both sophisticated and expressive.
[edit]Death
Rugolo died, aged 95, on October 16, 2011.
All the Things You Are
Pete Rugolo and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That makes the lonely winter seem long
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song
You are the angel glow that lights a star
The dearest things I know are what you are
Some day my happy arms will hold you
When all the things you are, are mine
The lyrics to Pete Rugolo and His Orchestra's song All The Things You Are are a beautiful ode to the power of love. The first line, "You are the promised kiss of springtime," conjures up an image of renewal and hope. The idea that love can transform a bleak and lonely season into something vibrant and alive is a powerful one. The second line, "That makes the lonely winter seem long," reinforces this sentiment by suggesting that without love, time drags on and life can be dreary.
The second stanza of the song focuses on the ways in which love makes the ordinary feel extraordinary. "You are the breathless hush of evening, that trembles on the brink of a lovely song," is a vivid image that captures the feeling of being swept up in the moment. The idea of a hush that is both breathless and lovely suggests that love has the power to take our breath away while also lifting us up.
Finally, the last stanza of the song speaks to the hope of love fulfilled. "Some day my happy arms will hold you, and some day I'll know that moment divine, when all the things you are, are mine," is a triumphant declaration of faith in love. The idea that one day we will hold the person we love in our arms and experience the fullness of all they are is a powerful one, and speaks to the enduring power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
You are the promised kiss of springtime
You bring a renewal of life and joy like the kiss of springtime that was promised after a long and lonely winter
That makes the lonely winter seem long
Your absence creates a feeling of loneliness, but your love makes the waiting worth it
You are the breathless hush of evening
Your presence brings a quiet and peaceful feeling that captures the beauty of the evening moment
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song
Your essence creates a feeling of anticipation and excitement that is like the edge of a beautiful song about to be sung
You are the angel glow that lights a star
Your beauty and radiance are like the light of an angel that guides and inspires the highest aspirations
The dearest things I know are what you are
The most cherished and meaningful things in my life are all that you embody and represent
Some day my happy arms will hold you
In the future, I will finally have the joy of holding you in a warm and loving embrace
And some day I'll know that moment divine
One day I will experience a heavenly moment that is beyond description, when you and I are together in complete harmony and love
When all the things you are, are mine
When I finally possess all that you are and everything that you represent, then I will be complete and fulfilled
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheMoot1
Great memories of my dad and listening to this evocative brass arrangement with beuatiful trombone lead which I found inspiring as a kid
Jay Kay
My grandfather was a genius, I wish I couldve talked to him before the alzheimer's about his music
Krystof Srebrakowski
Jordan Kay I’m re-discovering the best music of all times !! I just watched an episode of “Thriller” from 1960, where your grandfather wrote the music. I’m studying film music myself, and I love Mr. Rugolo’s work along with Jerry Goldsmith and others... Does anybody know where I can find some film scores done for those TV series and movies from that time ?
Daniel Weinstein
I presume Pete Rugolo was your grandfather. I saw him once at Local 47, Hollywood. Knew it was him from album covers and the Encyclopedia of Jazz.
Jay Kay
Daniel Weinstein I feel like listening to his music is the closest I come to talking to him and it gives me a bit of peace
Daniel Weinstein
The records certainly speak for themselves, if it's any consolation.
Hector Arancibia
he was one of the most creative in his time...
Rhea Foster
Who's on solo tbone? Urbie? Frank?
Jerthepear
Frank Rosolino
Hector Arancibia
sorry, I only know it's great!