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, 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 was posthumously 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 1940s), released 1963, featured additional trombone solos by Ray himself. Both albums are pure light jazz and did not feature any vocals.
Greensleeves
Ray Conniff Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who meant to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping
Who angels greet with anthem sweet
While shepherds watch our keeping
This, this is Christ, the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
So bring him incense, gold and myrrh
Come peasant King to own him
The King of kings, salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
This, this is Christ, the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
The babe, the Son of Mary
Nails fierce shall pierce him through
The cross be borne for me, for you
Hail, hail, the word made flesh
Obeyed the Son of Mary
This, this is Christ, the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
The babe, the Son of Mary
Praise Him, Son of joy
Joy to the risen Lord
Praise Him, Son of joy
Joy to the risen Lord
This, this is Christ the king
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
The babe, the Son of Mary
The song is a rendition of the traditional English Christmas carol Greensleeves, also known by its first line “What Child Is This?”. The lyrics of the song are centered around the birth of Jesus Christ, and captures the essence of the nativity story with the use of poetic and symbolic language.
The first stanza of the song describes the infant Jesus, sleeping on Mary’s lap while the angels sing sweet songs and the shepherds watch over them. The second stanza reveals that the sleeping child is Christ, the King, and that the shepherds and angels sing hymns of praise to Him. The refrain of the song “Haste, haste to bring Him laud” is a call to action for listeners to join in the celebration by worshipping the newborn king.
In the third stanza, the song shifts its focus to the future suffering of Jesus, as the nails of the cross will pierce him through. The final stanza of the song is a call to praise the risen Lord, who is the Christ, the king celebrated in the earlier stanzas. Thus, the song captures the entire life of Jesus - His birth, His death, and His resurrection - and encourages listeners to participate in the joy of the occasion.
Line by Line Meaning
What child is this?
Who is this child?
Who meant to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping
Who is sleeping on Mary's lap
Who angels greet with anthem sweet
Who is greeted by sweet anthem by angels
While shepherds watch our keeping
While the shepherds are watching over us
This, this is Christ, the King
This is Christ, the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Whom shepherds are guarding and angels are singing about
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
Quickly come and praise Him
The babe, the Son of Mary
The baby who is Mary's son
So bring him incense, gold and myrrh
Bring him offerings of incense, gold, and myrrh
Come peasant King to own him
Come and claim him as your king, even if you are a peasant
The King of kings, salvation brings
He is the king of all kings and brings salvation
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
Allow your loving hearts to enthrone Him
Nails fierce shall pierce him through
He will be pierced by sharp nails
The cross be borne for me, for you
The cross is borne for both you and me
Hail, hail, the word made flesh
Hail and celebrate the word made flesh
Obeyed the Son of Mary
Obey Mary's son
Praise Him, Son of joy
Praise Him, the source of joy
Joy to the risen Lord
Celebrate the risen Lord with joy
This, this is Christ the king
This is Christ, the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Whom shepherds are guarding and angels are singing about
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
Quickly come and praise Him
The babe, the Son of Mary
The baby who is Mary's son
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ray Conniff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind