Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Frank Chacksfield

 
Artist: Frank Chacksfield
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Performed Songs By:

Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II

Worked With:

Frank Chacksfield Orchestra
See Frank Chacksfield Lyrics
  • Born: May 09, 1914, Battle, Sussex, England
  • Died: June 09, 1995
  • Active: '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s
  • Genres: Easy Listening
  • Instrument: Piano, Organ
  • Representative Albums: "In the Limelight", "Beyond the Sea/The New Limelight", "Evening in Paris/Evening in Rome
  • Representative Songs: "Ebb Tide", "She's a Woman", "On the Beach

Biography

Frank Chacksfield (b. May 9, 1914, Battle, Sussex, England; d. June 9, 1995) is a pianist and organist who had a series of hit singles in the '50s, most notably with "Ebb Tide."

Chacksfield learned how to play piano as a child. While he was a boy, he was the deputy organist for the local church. Though his parents discouraged him to pursue music as a career, he persevered. In the late '30s, when he was in his mid-20s, he was leading small musical bands in Britain. In 1940, he enlisted in the British army. During the war, he had his first radio broadcast, "Original Songs At the Piano," which orignated from Glasgow. Shortly after its broadcast, Chacksfield landed a job as the arranger for Stars In Battledress, a World War II entertainment troupe.

After the war, Chacksfield supported Charlie Chester's comedy group, Stand Easy. The connection with Chester led to Chacksfield's first recording, as the accompanist for Frederick Ferrari, one of Chester's lead singers. During this time, he was formed his own group, the Tunesmiths, and conducted orchestras for Henry Hall and Geraldo.

Frank Chacksfield signed with Decca and made his recorded solo debut in the early '50s. Soon, he scored a novelty hit single with "Little Red Monkey," which climbed to number three on the British charts in the spring of 1953. That summer, he had a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic with the "Theme from Limelight," which featured a lush, sweeping orchestra. The next year, Chacksfield followed with "Ebb Tide," which replicated the arrangement for "Limelight" and was equally successful. It was his first US hit single, peaking at number two.

For the rest of the '50s, Chacksfield released a series of popular instrumental singles, as well as accompanying albums. In the '60s, he had a weekly program on British radio; as he got older, he made the occasional appearance on UK radio shows.

Frank Chacksfield continued to record into the '90s; his last album was Thanks for the Memories (Academy Award Winners 1934-55), which was 1991. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: Frank Chacksfield
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Frank Chacksfield
Birth name Francis Charles Chacksfield
Born 9 May 1914(1914-05-09)
Battle, East Sussex, England
Died 9 June 1995 (aged 81)
Kent
Genre(s) Orchestra, big band
Occupation(s) Bandleader, conductor, composer
Instrument(s) Piano
Years active 1938 – 1991

Frank Chacksfield (9 May 1914 - 9 June 1995[1]) was a popular English conductor in the easy listening style. From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world.[2] Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the United States, which firmly established his reputation worldwide.[2] During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.[citation needed]

Contents

Career

He was born Francis Charles Chacksfield[3] in Battle, East Sussex, England,[1] and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following World War II.[2]

Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church.[1] Although his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered.[1] In the late 1930s, when he was in his mid 20s, he was leading small musical bands in the UK.[1]

At the beginning of World War II he joined the Royal Corps of Signals. Just as he was assigned a post overseas he became ill. While he was recovering he was allowed to make a BBC broadcast. The broadcast led to his being posted to the Army's entertainment section, ENSA, at Salisbury.[4] He was assigned to ENSA, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.[5]

After the war, Chacksfield supported Charlie Chester's comedy group, Stand Easy.[1] The connection with Chester led to Chacksfield's first recording, as the accompanist for Frederick Ferrari, one of Chester's lead singers.[1] During this time, he conducted orchestras for Henry Hall and Geraldo.[1] In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called 'The Tunesmiths' and won a recording contract with Parlophone.[5] Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of 'mood music' albums.[5] His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino.[5]

Chacksfield had two big U.S. hits in 1953, "Ebb Tide" and, from the score of Limelight, "Terry's Theme".[5] A third single that year, "Golden Violins" appeared in the Cash Box chart (Billboard only ranked to 20 positions at that time). Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first UK entry into the Eurovision Song Contest 1957; "All" by Patricia Bredin. Because the BBC's musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage. Radio and television commitments frequently found him in Éire during the 1960s and 1970s.[2] In 1965/66 he co-hosted a series with French conductor Roger Roger, each playing their own (and other artists') discs.[2] During 1972 Chacksfield took a 40-piece orchestra to Japan, performing 15 shows in 12 cities in 16 days - in addition to a television recording and two radio shows.[2]

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Chacksfield recorded a large number of instrumental recordings for Starborne Productions. The recordings were licensed for use by easy listening radio stations and functional music companies. The vast majority of these recordings were not made commercially available to the general public until 2007 by Starborne Productions.

While Starborne continued its release of compact discs through 2009, digital downloads of the Starborne series of recordings also started to become available in 2009.

Chacksfield continued to record into the 1990s; his last album was Thanks for the Memories (Academy Award Winners 1934-55), released in 1991.[1]

He died on 9 June 1995, aged 81, in Kent, having suffered for several years from Parkinson's disease.[2]

His song, "Après Ski", was featured in the 2006 video game Saint's Row for the Xbox 360.[6]

Selected discography

Major albums

  • Ebb Tide, London LL 1408
  • Velvet, London LL 1443
  • Evening in Paris, Decca LK 4081
  • Evening in Rome, Decca LK 4095
  • If I Had a Talking Picture of You, Decca LK 4135
  • Opera's Golden Moments, London Phase 4 21092
  • The New Ebb Tide, London Phase 4 44053
  • Globe-Trotting, London Phase 4 SP 44059
  • The New Limelight, London Phase 4 SP 44066
  • Hawaii, London Phase 4 SP 44087
  • Foreign Film Festival, London Phase 4 SP 44112
  • New York, London Phase 4 SP 44141
  • Beatles Songbook, London Phase 4 44142
  • Simon & Garfunkel & Jimmy Webb, London Phase 4 44151
  • Plays Bacharach, London Phase 4 44158
  • Chacksfield Plays Rodgers & Hart, London Phase 4 SP 44223
  • The Glory That Was Gershwin, London Phase 4 44254
  • Music for a Merry Christmas, Richmond B 20056
  • TV's Golden Hits, Compleat Records 671020-1

[5]

UK hit singles

  • "Little Red Monkey" (1953) - UK #10 †
  • "Terry's Theme from 'Limelight'" (1953) - UK #2
  • "Ebb Tide" (1954) - UK #9
  • "In Old Lisbon" (1956) - UK #15
  • "Port-au-Prince" (1956) - UK #18 ‡
  • "Donkey Cart" (1956) - UK #26

Credited as :

† Frank Chackfield's Tunesmiths, featuring Jack Jordan - clavioline

‡ Winifred Atwell and Frank Chacksfield

All others credited to Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra

[7]

Others

Starborne Productions releases that include recordings by Frank Chacksfield are: Starborne Limited Edition #1 Starborne Limited Edition #2 Starborne Limited Edition #3 Starborne Limited Edition #4 Starborne Limited Edition #5 Starborne Limited Edition #6 Starborne Limited Edition #7 Starborne Limited Edition #8 Starborne Limited Edition #9 Starborne Limited Edition #10 Starborne Limited Edition #12 Starborne Limited Edition #15 Starborne Limited Edition #18 Starborne Limited Edition #21 Starborne Limited Edition #22 Starborne Limited Edition #25 Starborne Limited Edition #29 Starborne Limited Edition #33 Starborne Limited Edition #37 Starborne Limited Edition #44 Starborne Limited Edition #47 Starborne Limited Edition #52 and Starborne Limited Edition #54.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=FRANK. Retrieved 21 January 2009. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g The Robert Farnon Society at rfsoc.org.uk
  3. ^ Rateyourmusic.com
  4. ^ Janet Morris remembers .... The Frank Chacksfield Band
  5. ^ a b c d e f Spaceagepop.com
  6. ^ Saint's Row Platinum Hits
  7. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 99. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
Learn More
Mediterranean Moonlight/Lovely Lady (2003 Album by Frank Chacksfield)
Evening in Paris/Evening in Rome (2003 Album by Frank Chacksfield)
Beyond the Sea/The New Limelight (2004 Album by Frank Chacksfield)

Who is Frank Castellano? Read answer...
Does frank suck? Read answer...
Who is Frank Bender? Read answer...

Help us answer these
In the phrase to be frank who is frank?
Is it correct to say Frank and you or Frank you?
Who was frank lucas?

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Frank Chacksfield".  Read more

Related answers
» More
 
Answer these
» More

Mentioned in

» More» More