Raymond Scott | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Harry Warnow |
Born |
Brooklyn, New York, United States |
September 10, 1908
Died | February 8, 1994 North Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States |
(aged 85)
Genres | Jazz, exotica, electronica, film soundtracks, Broadway, commercial jingles |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, bandleader, audio engineer, inventor, producer |
Instruments | Piano, celeste, electronic devices |
Years active | 1931–1985 |
Labels | Brunswick, Columbia, Decca, Master, Audivox, MGM, Coral, Everest, Top Rank, Epic, Basta |
Associated acts | Raymond Scott Quintette, Secret Seven, Raymond Scott Orchestra, Your Hit Parade Orchestra |
Website | raymondscott |
Notable instruments | |
Clavivox Electronium Circle Machine Rhythm Modulator Bass-Line Generator Bandito the Bongo Artist |
Raymond Scott (born Harry Warnow, September 10, 1908 – February 8, 1994) was an American composer, band leader, pianist, engineer, recording studio maverick, and electronic instrument inventor.
Although Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is familiar to millions because of its adaptation by Carl Stalling in over 120 classic Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and other Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies animated shorts. Scott's melodies may also be heard in contemporary shows like Ren and Stimpy (which use the original Scott recordings in twelve episodes), The Simpsons, Duckman, Animaniacs, The Oblongs, and Batfink. The only music Scott actually composed to accompany animation were three 20-second electronic commercial jingles for County Fair Bread in 1962.
Scott was born in Brooklyn, New York to Russian Jewish immigrants, Joseph and Sarah Warnow. His older brother, Mark Warnow, a conductor, violinist, and musical director for the CBS radio program Your Hit Parade, encouraged his musical career.
A 1931 graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, where he studied piano, theory and composition, Scott, under his birth name, began his professional career as a pianist for the CBS Radio house band. His older (by eight years) brother Mark conducted the orchestra. Harry reportedly adopted the pseudonym "Raymond Scott" to spare his brother charges of nepotism when the orchestra began performing the pianist's idiosyncratic compositions. In 1935 he married Pearl Zimney (1910–2001).