After serving in the U.S. Army in World War II (where he worked under Walter Schumann), he was hired by Mitch Miller, then head of A & R at Columbia Records as their home arranger, and he worked with several artists, including Rosemary Clooney, Marty Robbins, Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis, Guy Mitchell and Johnnie Ray. He wrote a top 10 arrangement for Don Cherry's "Band of Gold" in 1955, a single that sold more than a million copies.
Amongst the hit singles he backed with his orchestra (and eventually with a male chorus) were "Yes Tonight Josephine" and "Just Walkin' in the Rain" by Johnnie Ray; "Chances Are" and "It's Not for Me to Say" by Johnny Mathis; "A White Sport Coat" and "The Hanging Tree" by Marty Robbins; "Up Above My Head," a duet by Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray, and "Pet Me, Poppa" by Rosemary Clooney. He also backed up the albums "Tony" by Tony Bennett, "Blue Swing" by Eileen Rodgers, "Swingin' for Two" by Don Cherry. and half the tracks of "The Big Beat" by Johnnie Ray.
In these early years he also produced some similar sounding records for Columbia's Epic label under the name of Jay Raye (which stands for "Joseph Raymond") amongst them a backing album and singles with Somethin' Smith & The Redheads, an American male vocal group.
Because of the success of his backings Mitch Miller allowed him to make his own record, and this became the successful "'S Wonderful", a collection of standards that were recorded with an orchestra and a wordless singing chorus (four men, four women). He released many more albums in the same vein, including "Dance The Bop" (1957), "'S Marvelous" (1957, gold album), "'S Awful Nice" (1958), "Concert in Rhythm" (1958, gold album), "Hollywood in Rhythm" (1958), "Broadway in Rhythm" (1959), and "Concert in Rhythm, Volume II" (1959, gold album).
In 1959 he started the Ray Conniff Singers (12 women and 13 men) and released the album "It's the Talk of the Town. This group of word— not just syllable — singing singers brought him the biggest hit he ever had in his career: "Somewhere My Love" (1966). The title track of the album was written to the music of Lara's Theme from the film Doctor Zhivago (1965), and was a top 10 single in the US. The album also reached the US top 20 and went platinum, and Conniff won a Grammy. The single and album reached high positions in the international charts (a.o. Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Japan) as well. Also extraordinarily successful was the first of four Christmas albums by the Singers, "Christmas with Conniff" (1959). Nearly fifty years after its release, in 2004, Conniff posthumously was awarded with a platinum album/CD.
Musically different highlights in Conniff's career are two albums he produced in cooperation with Billy Butterfield, an old buddy from earlier swing days. "Conniff Meets Butterfield" (1960) featured Butterfield's solo trumpet and a small rhythm group; "Just Kiddin' Around" (after a Conniff original composition from the 1940's), released 1963, featured additional trombone solos by Ray himself. Both albums are pure light jazz and did not feature any vocals.
Later in the 1960's he produced an average of two instrumental and one vocal album a year. Among these are (Original albums only):
* "'s Wonderful" (1956)
* "Dance the Bop!" (1957)
* "'s Marvelous" (1957)
* "'s Awful Nice" (1958)
* "Concert in Rhythm, Vol.1" (1958)
* "Broadway in Rhythm" (1958)
* "Hollywood in Rhythm" (1958)
* "It's The Talk of the Town" (1959)
* "Conniff Meets Butterfield" (1959)
* "Christmas with Conniff" (1959)
* "Concert in Rhythm, Vol.2" (1959)
* "Young at Heart" (1960)
* "Say It with Music (A Touch of Latin)" (1960)
* "Memories Are Made of This" (1960, gold album)
* "Somebody Loves Me" (1961)
* "'S Continental" (1961)
* "So Much in Love" (1962, gold album)
* "Rhapsody in Rhythm" (1962)
* "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (1962, gold album)
* "The Happy Beat" (1962)
* "You Make Me Feel So Young" (1963)
* "Speak to Me of Love" (1963)
* "Friendly Persuasion" (1964)
* "Invisible Tears" (1964)
* "Love Affair" (1965)
* "Music From 'Mary Poppins', 'The Sound of Music', 'My Fair Lady' & Other Great Movie Themes" (1965)
* "Here We Come A-Caroling" (1965)
* "Happiness Is" (1965)
* "Ray Conniff's World of Hits" (1966)
* "En Español (The Ray Conniff Singers Sing It in Spanish)" (1966)
* "This Is My Song" (1967)
* "Ray Conniff's Hawaiian Album" (1967)
* "It Must Be Him" (1967, gold album)
* "Honey" (1968, gold album)
* "Turn Around Look at Me" (1968)
* "I Love How You Love Me" (1968)
* "Live Europa Tournee 1969/Concert in Stereo" (1969)
* "Jean" (1969)
* "Concert In Stereo: Live At 'The Sahara Tahoe'" (1969)
* "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (1970)
* "We've Only Just Begun" (1970)
* "Love Story" (1970)
* "Great Contemporary Instrumental Hits" (1971)
* "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (1971)
* "Love Theme from "The Godfather" (1972)
* "Alone Again (Naturally)" (1972)
* "I Can See Clearly Now" (1972)
* "Ray Conniff in Britain" (1973)
* "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (1973)
* "Harmony" (1973)
* "The Way We Were" (1973)
* "The Happy Sound of Ray Conniff" (1974)
* "Ray Conniff In Moscow" (1974)
* "Laughter in the Rain" (1975)
* "Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (1975)
* "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1975)
* "I Write the Songs" (1975)
* "Live in Japan" (1975)
* "Send in the Clowns" (1976)
* "Theme from 'SWAT' and Other TV Themes" (1976)
* "After the Lovin'" (1976)
* "Exitos Latinos" (1977)
* "Ray Conniff Plays the Bee Gees and Other Great Hits" (1978)
* "I Will Survive" (1979)
* "The Perfect '10' Classics" (1980)
* "Exclusivamente Latino" (1980)
* "Siempre Latino" (1981)
* "The Nashville Connection" (1982)
* "Musik für Millionen" (partly produced for a German TV show in 1982)
* "Amor Amor" (1982)
* "Fantastico" (1983)
* "Supersonico" (1984)
* "Campeones" (1985)
* "Say You Say Me" (1986)
* "30th Anniversary Edition" (1986)
* "Always in My Heart" (1987)
* "Interpreta 16 Exitos De Manuel Alejandro" (1988)
* "Ray Conniff Plays Broadway" (1990)
* "'S Always Conniff" (1991)
* "Latinisimo" (1993)
* "40th Anniversary" (1995)
* "Live in Rio (aka Mi Historia)" (1997)
* "I Love Movies" (1997)
* "My Way" (1998)
* "'S Country" (1999)
* "'S Christmas" (1999)
* "Do Ray Para O Rei" (2000).
Between 1957 and 1968, he had 28 albums in the American Top 40, the most famous one being "Somewhere My Love" (1966). He topped the album list in Britain in 1969 with "His Orchestra, His Chorus, His Singers, His Sound". He also was the first American popular artist to record in Russia—in 1974 he recorded "Ray Conniff in Moscow" with the help of a local choir. His later albums like "Exclusivamente Latino", "Amor Amor" and "Latinisimo" made him very popular in Latin-American countries, even more so after performing in the Viña del Mar International Song Festival. In Brazil and Chile he was treated like a young pop superstar in the 1980s and 1990s when he was in his 70s and 80s. He even played live with his orchestra and eight-person chorus in large football stadiums as well as in Viña del Mar.
Ray Conniff was a quiet, modest sympathetic artist. He always worked in the background so that in the fifties there were rumours that this man didn't even exist and his name was just a name fake as then his orchestral sound was so sensational. Nevertheless he sold about 70 million albums world-wide and continued recording and performing until his death in 2002.
He died in Escondido, California, and is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
In 2004, a memorial two-CD compilation set, "The Essential Ray Conniff", was released, featuring many rare and previously unreleased tracks. "The Singles Collection, Vol.1" was released on the Collectables label in 2005. This also features many rare tracks.
Mack The Knife
Ray Conniff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it, ah, out of sight
Ya know when that shark bites with his teeth, babe
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, oh, wears old MacHeath, babe
So there’s never, never a trace of red
Now on the sidewalk, huh, huh, whoo sunny morning, un huh
Lies a body just oozin' life, eek
And someone’s sneakin' ‘round the corner
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?
There's a tugboat, huh, huh, down by the river dontcha know
Where a cement bag’s just a'drooppin' on down
Oh, that cement is just, it's there for the weight, dear
Five'll get ya ten old Macky’s back in town
Now d'ja hear ‘bout Louie Miller? He disappeared, babe
After drawin' out all his hard-earned cash
And now MacHeath spends just like a sailor
Could it be our boy's done somethin' rash?
Now Jenny Diver, ho, ho, yeah, Sukey Tawdry
Ooh, Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky’s back in town
I said Jenny Diver, whoa, Sukey Tawdry
Look out to Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Yes, that line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky’s back in town
Look out, old Macky's back!!
"Mack the Knife," a song popularized by Bobby Darin, is a playful yet hard-edged hit from the 1928 German musical Die Dreigroschenoper, or The Threepenny Opera. The piece was written by the famous songwriting team of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. The song is a tribute to a fictional figure named Mackie Messer, or "Mack the Knife," and describes the insidiousness of his character in great detail. The shark metaphor, for example, is used to describe Mackie's sharp and dangerous nature. The fact that his knife is hidden also adds to the air of danger about him.
As the song progresses, the lyrics descend into a darker world, full of murder, deception, and robbery. The lines "Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear / and he shows them, pearly white" take on a more sinister meaning when describing Mack the Knife. The song's chorus serves to remind the listener that Mackie is never far away, and that danger is always close at hand.
The final lines of the song describe a lineup of women, each of whom has had dealings with Mackie. The phrase "the line forms on the right, babe / now that Macky's back in town" suggests that Mackie's charisma is strong enough to attract even those who know the truth about him.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
The criminal offender is dangerous and has sharp teeth.
And it shows them pearly white
His teeth are white and visible which indicates that he is proud of his criminal nature.
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
The criminal, Mack the Knife, only needs a single weapon to conduct his attacks.
And he keeps it, ah, out of sight
Mack the Knife is able to hide his single weapon to evade suspicion from authorities.
Ya know when that shark bites with his teeth, babe
When Mack the Knife attacks with his weapon, his actions have serious consequences for his victims.
Scarlet billows start to spread
The resulting injuries and loss of blood are represented by the spread of 'scarlet billows'.
Fancy gloves, oh, wears old MacHeath, babe
Mack the Knife is a sophisticated criminal, who takes care to leave no trace of blood on his clothing, as he wears gloves.
So there’s never, never a trace of red
Mack the Knife is careful enough in his crimes to avoid leaving any forensic evidence, such as blood.
Now on the sidewalk, huh, huh, whoo sunny morning, un huh
The events being described take place during a seemingly unremarkable morning.
Lies a body just oozin' life, eek
There is a victim who is badly injured in the scene.
And someone’s sneakin' ‘round the corner
There is an individual in the area, whose movements indicate suspicion.
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?
The question is posed as to whether or not Mack the Knife is responsible for the victim's injuries.
There's a tugboat, huh, huh, down by the river dontcha know
Further events are described, happening near a local waterway.
Where a cement bag’s just a'drooppin' on down
There is a bag of cement present, which is dropped into the water.
Oh, that cement is just, it's there for the weight, dear
The cement is extra weight, suggesting an intent to hide something.
Five'll get ya ten old Macky’s back in town
The possibility is suggested that Mack the Knife has returned to the area again.
Now d'ja hear ‘bout Louie Miller? He disappeared, babe
There is a missing person named Louie Miller.
After drawin' out all his hard-earned cash
Louie Miller has recently drawn a large sum of money from his bank account.
And now MacHeath spends just like a sailor
Mack the Knife is observed to be suddenly spending abundantly, which raises suspicion.
Could it be our boy's done somethin' rash?
The question is posed as to whether or not Mack the Knife has played a role in the disappearance of Louie Miller.
Now Jenny Diver, ho, ho, yeah, Sukey Tawdry
Various other characters are mentioned, potentially associates of Mack the Knife.
Ooh, Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
More individuals are named as potential companions of Mack the Knife.
Oh, the line forms on the right, babe
Mack the Knife has enough influence to gain a following among some people in the area.
I said Jenny Diver, whoa, Sukey Tawdry
The characters named earlier are mentioned again.
Look out to Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
The women named earlier pose a danger that should be observed.
Yes, that line forms on the right, babe
Mack the Knife's following continues to grow.
Look out, old Macky's back!!
The song concludes with a warning that Mack the Knife is back in the area.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERTOLT BRECHT, EUGEN BERTHOLD BRECHT, KURT WEILL, MARC BLITZSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mariahelenadasilvahelena6354
ouvindo em 2023 alguém mais dá minha época inesquecível
@JesusRojas-ww5cd
Imaginen la emocion que me da escuchar a Ray, me transporta al pasado, tengo 73 años.
@IVORIESMAN
The precision and attention to detail from all concerned here is astonishing - and the mind blowing co-ordination from the wonderful singers. Just outstanding!
@MichaelBecker-px5sy
So Great
@johnfaulkner2360
I love the way Mr coniff has arranged this old number.. A special when the whole range of saxophones comes in ❤️😍got bless Glenn Miller 👍👍
@ernestotabetalerum7972
Oldies but goodies
@user-kj6ny2yz8t
John Faulkner
Ни саксы, ни тромбоны, ни трубы главное у Джона.
Он виртуоз аранжировки. И главное! Он из первых, кто начал подстраивать голосовые партии под инструментальные.
07.07.22. Привет из Москвы.
@user-md2io9lp1e
Ray Conniff, por siempre lo mejor en música, exquisitamente acompañada por sus coros celestiales.
@teresaalvarengasantos6013
Essas canções jamais serão esquecidas tempos que não voltam mais
@Demarchiable
As músicas que eram um estímulo para dancar. Tempos maravilhosos.