He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but his family settled in Atlantic City when he was four. His father was a violinist who had hoped he would play violin as well. Although he learned to play the violin, Harry preferred the brass instruments. He began playing for Jewish weddings and nightclubs at age 15, and in 1932 had his first recording where he played trombone. At some point in the decade he adopted the name Ziggy Elman. Elman is a shortening of Finkelman while "Ziggy" is believed to be a reference to Florenz Ziegfeld.
He joined the Benny Goodman orchestra as a trumpet player in 1936. His 1939 composition "And the Angels Sing" with lyrics by Johnny Mercer became the number one song in the nation. In 1956, he was asked to recreate his famous frailach solo along with the original vocalist Martha Tilton for the movie, The Benny Goodman Story but was unable to, his technique having since withered away. Another trumpeter, Manny Klein, played the solo on the soundtrack, but Elman appeared performing it in the film. This song is, arguably, his longest-lasting musical legacy since it has appeared in films up to 1997 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987. After his work with Goodman he joined Tommy Dorsey's band and also played as a member of the military during the war. He loved frailach music, later known as klezmer, and made a few recordings of such with Mickey Katz. In the period from 1940 to 1947 he was honored in Down Beat magazine readers poll six times. He led his own bands starting in 1947.
By the 1950s big bands had declined and for a time he switched to entertainment work. In this decade he appeared in films mostly as himself. In 1956 he had a heart-attack which curtailed his musical career. By the end of the 1950s he had to work for a car dealership and was financially ruined. In 1961 it was revealed at an alimony hearing that he was virtually bankrupt. He later worked in a music store and taught trumpet to some up-and-coming musicians. He died in 1968 at 54 and was buried at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
And the Angels Sing
Ziggy Elman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard
You speak, and the angels sing
Or am I breathing music into every word
Suddenly, the setting is strange
I can see water and moonlight beaming
Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore - Then
Long winter nights with the candles gleaming
Through it all your face that I adore.
You smile, and the angels sing
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
We kiss, and the angels sing
And leave their music ringing in my heart.
The song 'And The Angels Sing' by Ziggy Elman is a wistful love song that captures the romantic emotions of meeting someone special. The opening line "We meet, and the angels sing" sets the tone for the rest of the song as the singer describes how the person they meet has a special quality that makes everything seem magical. The metaphor of "the angels sing" implies the idea that the person's presence in the singer's life is like music to their ears, transforming the world around them.
The lyrics go on to describe how the singer feels like they are breathing music into every word that the person speaks to them, indicating that they have a strong connection and a heightened sense of awareness around each other. The second verse shifts to a dreamlike setting by describing the images of water and moonlight beaming, and silver waves breaking on an undiscovered shore. This section could be interpreted as a metaphor for the unknown journey that they will take together as they fall in love.
The song reaches its climax when the two characters kiss, and "the angels sing" even louder, symbolizing the joy and happiness that they both feel in that moment. The final line "And leave their music ringing in my heart" shows how their love will continue to impact the singer even after the song ends.
Overall, 'And The Angels Sing' is a beautifully crafted love song with romantic imagery and heartfelt lyrics that capture the excitement and wonder of falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
We meet, and the angels sing
The sweetest song I ever heard is sung by the angels when we first meet
You speak, and the angels sing
Every word you say is like music to my ears, as if the angels themselves are singing
Suddenly, the setting is strange
The scene around us changes suddenly and I am transported to a new place
I can see water and moonlight beaming
I see a serene landscape of water and moonlight shining brightly
Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore - Then
I see waves crashing onto a shore that is mysterious and unknown to me
Suddenly, I see it all change
The scene around us changes again, this time to the cold darkness of winter
Long winter nights with the candles gleaming
The only light comes from candles illuminating the long winter nights
Through it all your face that I adore.
Your face is the one constant in my life, the one thing that brings me joy despite the changing surroundings
You smile, and the angels sing
When you smile, it is as if the angels sing a gentle melody
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
The music of the angels starts out soft and subtle, barely noticeable
We kiss, and the angels sing
But as soon as we kiss, the music of the angels becomes louder and more pronounced
And leave their music ringing in my heart.
Their music echoes in my heart long after we part, a reminder of the beauty of our love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ziggy Elman, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
78smusicman
One of the most beautiful Trumpet sounds of all time !!!!!!
John Cifra
Pure talent and artistry, he was one of the all time greats.
makebelieveballroom
Elman played many instruments proficiently.The swing versions of this song all came from his adaptation of a yiddish composition. I'd put him in the genius category.Go to my channel for his solo with Dorsey,about 1941.His solo with Goodman in 1939 is also swingin'.WillieD.
Michael Friedman
Lovely musical performance !
Jaime Marín
I love it THe trumpet sound is magnifique.....
shorty boito
Where has all this great big band music disappear
Olds Rocket 88
Love that signature change.
purkasz
You're still with us Ziggy. Just watched you play Song of India with Tommy and Buddy. Made my day and night. Thanks pal.
Barry I. Grauman
When Benny Goodman heard this recording {originally released as "Freilach In Swing"}, he wanted to "cover" it with lyrics (which Johnny Mercer provided), and a Martha Tilton vocal, with Ziggy reprising his solo. At the time, Elman was under contract to RCA's Bluebird subsidiary to record for them for a year...
amparo ospina
Bella música