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.
It Had to Be You
Ray Conniff Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
Could make me be true, could make me feel blue,
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss,
But they wouldn't do.
With all your faults, I love you still,
It had to be you, wonderful you,
It had to be you.
It had to be you, it had to be you.
I wandered around and finally found somebody who
Could make me be true, could make me be blue,
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss,
But they wouldn't do.
For nobody else gave me a thrill.
With all your faults, I love you still.
It had to be you, wonderful you
It had to be you.
The Ray Conniff Singers' song It Had To Be You is a classic love song that reflects the emotions of someone who has finally found the one they have been searching for. The singer emphasizes the feeling of destiny, stating that "it had to be you," and expressing gratitude for finding the right partner. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, as they convey the joy and fulfillment of finally finding someone who can make them feel true and blue. The song celebrates imperfections and the genuine love that can overcome them. The lyrics emphasize that nobody else can replace the feeling that the singer has found in this special someone.
The song is relevant today because it conveys a timeless message about the power of love. People continue to search for their perfect partners, and It Had To Be You reinforces the idea that true love is worth waiting for. The song has been covered by many artists, showcasing its enduring popularity across generations. The Ray Conniff Singers' version is particularly notable for its charming harmonies and elegant instrumental arrangements. The song encapsulates the essence of classic romantic ballads from the mid-twentieth century.
Line by Line Meaning
It had to be you, it had to be you.
You are the one that was destined for me, and there could be no one else.
I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
I searched for a long time and eventually found the person who completes me.
Could make me be true, could make me feel blue,
You have the ability to make me be honest and vulnerable, even if it sometimes hurts.
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you.
Thinking of you sometimes makes me sad, but I still find joy in the thought of you.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
There may be others who never act unkind or disrespectful.
Might never be cross or try to be boss,
They may not be argumentative or controlling.
But they wouldn't do.
But none of them would be the right fit for me like you are.
For nobody else gave me a thrill.
I have never felt so alive and passionate with anyone else.
With all your faults, I love you still,
Despite your imperfections, I still love you deeply and completely.
It had to be you, wonderful you,
You are simply amazing, and there could be no other like you.
It had to be you.
You were the one I was meant to be with, and I am so grateful for you.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ISHAM JONES, GUS KAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind