[78-L] Early studio singers - question

[Michael Biel]

In many cases they were recording brand new songs, so they were not yet
familiar with many of them to record from memory.  But I think the real
basis of the question was if could they read music or did they learn the
melody by rote and sing the words from a lyric sheet.  Perhaps Jim Walsh
knew -- did he write about this about some of his friends?  I have seen
some photos of acoustic recording studios that had a wire with clips
crossing the studio by the horn.  The sheets could be clipped to it
instead of using a music stand or holding the music which might rub
against the horn accidentally.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [78-L] Early studio singers - question
From: Mark Bardenwerper <citrogsa at charter.net>
Date: Sat, December 10, 2011 12:51 pm
To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>

On 12/10/2011 11:38, Julian Vein wrote:
> On 10/12/11 17:32, Mike Daley wrote:
>> Did studio singers like Arthur Collins, Billy Murray and Ada Jones read from the sheet music or did they learn the songs that they recorded by rote?
>>
>> For that matter, does anyone have any insight into whether later popular singers like Sinatra read music notation?
>>
>> Thanks for any assistance.
>>
>> Mike Daley
>>
>>
> ===================================
> ...or whether they had singing lessons?
>
Ha!

But we do know that they used sheet music and had to follow the score to

be able to know their lead-ins and solos, etc. They could be 
complicated, especially in the case of duets and when using chorus and 
backup singers. Plus, in studio, it was obviously a time saver to have 
the words in front of them while recording to avoid bloopers and 
forgotten lines.

In the early days, many of these singers jumped from session to session 
during the day, as did the musians. That was how they made their money. 
Back then it was not a lucrative.

-- 
Mark L. Bardenwerper, Sr. #:?)
Technology, thoughtfully, responsibly.
Visit me at http://citroen.cappyfabrics.com

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