| Revision as of 17:38, 27 August 2021 editGraham87 (talk | contribs)Account creators, Autopatrolled, Event coordinators, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Importers, Rollbackers291,789 edits rm extreme undue weight added by highly disruptive editor 144.133.97.238← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 05:29, 15 August 2024 edit undoGreenC bot (talk | contribs)Bots2,555,705 edits Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#articles.latimes.com | ||
| (12 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Short description|American musician and composer}} | {{Short description|American musician and composer (1935–1999)}} | ||
| '''Julius Wechter''' (May 10, 1935 – February 1, 1999) was an American musician and composer who played the ] and ]. He also played various percussion instruments. He composed the song "]" for ] and was leader of |
'''Julius Wechter''' (May 10, 1935 – February 1, 1999) was an American musician and composer who played the ] and ]. He also played various percussion instruments. He composed the song "]" for ] and was leader of the ]. | ||
| ==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
| Born in ], Wechter played ] (vibes) and ] for the ] group in the 1950s. In the early 1960s, he moved on to ] soundtracks and ], as well as session work for the likes of ], ], ], and various ] productions. His Beach Boys contributions include the climactic ] during the choruses of "]" and prominent vibraphone on "] |
Born in ], Wechter played ] (vibes) and ] for the ] group in the 1950s. In the early 1960s, he moved on to ] soundtracks and ], as well as session work for the likes of ], ], ], and various ] productions. His Beach Boys contributions include the climactic ] during the choruses of "]" and prominent vibraphone on "]". | ||
| He began his long and successful association with Herb Alpert and his ] when he played percussion on the Tijuana Brass's first hit, "]", in 1962. He later composed "]". Playing marimba and vibes on many of the songs on Alpert's subsequent albums in the 1960s, as well as writing at least one song on most of those albums, Wechter contributed much to the Tijuana Brass sound and style without receiving public credit for it at the time. | He began his long and successful association with Herb Alpert and his ] when he played percussion on the Tijuana Brass's first hit, "]", in 1962. He later composed "]". Playing marimba and vibes on many of the songs on Alpert's subsequent albums in the 1960s, as well as writing at least one song on most of those albums, Wechter contributed much to the Tijuana Brass sound and style without receiving public credit for it at the time. | ||
| Encouraged by Alpert, Wechter formed the ] {{Circa|1963}} and was quite successful.<ref>The single "Comin' In The Back Door" is reported to have been released in November 1963. http://www.45cat.com/record/201us7. However, Herb Alpert is said to have suggested in 1964 that Wechter form the Baja Marimba Band. {{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/02/07/composer-julius-wechter-dies-at-63/967fb099-5c58-41ba-b47b-a5c1aa5984ad/|title=Composer Julius Wechter Dies At 63 |newspaper=] |date=February 7, 1999}}</ref> The "BMB" placed four chart songs in Billboard's Top 100, and many more on its Easy Listening Top 40. When the band disbanded in the mid 1970s, Wechter turned his attention to TV and movies again, scoring the ] film '']''. He continued to play with Herb Alpert, joining his touring version of the Tijuana Brass in the mid 1970s. | Encouraged by Alpert, Wechter formed the ] {{Circa|1963}} and was quite successful.<ref>The single "Comin' In The Back Door" is reported to have been released in November 1963. http://www.45cat.com/record/201us7. However, Herb Alpert is said to have suggested in 1964 that Wechter form the Baja Marimba Band. {{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/02/07/composer-julius-wechter-dies-at-63/967fb099-5c58-41ba-b47b-a5c1aa5984ad/|title=Composer Julius Wechter Dies At 63 |newspaper=] |date=February 7, 1999}}</ref> The "BMB" placed four chart songs in Billboard's Top 100, and many more on its Easy Listening Top 40. When the band disbanded in the mid 1970s, Wechter turned his attention to TV and movies again, scoring the ] film '']''. He continued to play with Herb Alpert, joining his touring version of the Tijuana Brass in the mid 1970s. | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
| In his later years, he devoted himself to psychology, earned a master's degree, and served as vice president of the Southern California chapter of the ]. | In his later years, he devoted himself to psychology, earned a master's degree, and served as vice president of the Southern California chapter of the ]. | ||
| Wechter died at his home in California of lung cancer, at the age of 63, a day after his song "Spanish Flea" was used in '']'' episode "]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-04-mn-4895-story.html |title=Julius Wechter; Led Baja Marimba Band |first=Myrna |last=Oliver |newspaper=] |date=February 4, 1999}}</ref> | |||
| ==Selected compositions== | ==Selected compositions== | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| Line 41: | Line 42: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:29, 15 August 2024
American musician and composer (1935–1999)Julius Wechter (May 10, 1935 – February 1, 1999) was an American musician and composer who played the marimba and vibraphone. He also played various percussion instruments. He composed the song "Spanish Flea" for Herb Alpert and was leader of the Baja Marimba Band.
Biography
Born in Chicago, Wechter played vibraphone (vibes) and percussion for the Martin Denny group in the 1950s. In the early 1960s, he moved on to movie soundtracks and television, as well as session work for the likes of the Beach Boys, the Monkees, Sonny & Cher, and various Phil Spector productions. His Beach Boys contributions include the climactic timpani during the choruses of "Do You Wanna Dance?" and prominent vibraphone on "Let's Go Away for Awhile".
He began his long and successful association with Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass when he played percussion on the Tijuana Brass's first hit, "The Lonely Bull", in 1962. He later composed "Spanish Flea". Playing marimba and vibes on many of the songs on Alpert's subsequent albums in the 1960s, as well as writing at least one song on most of those albums, Wechter contributed much to the Tijuana Brass sound and style without receiving public credit for it at the time.
Encouraged by Alpert, Wechter formed the Baja Marimba Band c. 1963 and was quite successful. The "BMB" placed four chart songs in Billboard's Top 100, and many more on its Easy Listening Top 40. When the band disbanded in the mid 1970s, Wechter turned his attention to TV and movies again, scoring the Disney film Midnight Madness. He continued to play with Herb Alpert, joining his touring version of the Tijuana Brass in the mid 1970s.
In his later years, he devoted himself to psychology, earned a master's degree, and served as vice president of the Southern California chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Association.
Wechter died at his home in California of lung cancer, at the age of 63, a day after his song "Spanish Flea" was used in the Simpsons episode "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday".
Selected compositions
- 1964: Up Cherry Street
- 1965: Spanish Flea
- 1966: Brasilia
- 1966: Bean Bag (with Herb Alpert)
- 1966: Blue Sunday
- 1967: Shades Of Blue
- 1967: Flea Bag
- 1968: Panama
- 1968: Flyin' High
- 1970: Robbers and Cops
References
- The single "Comin' In The Back Door" is reported to have been released in November 1963. http://www.45cat.com/record/201us7. However, Herb Alpert is said to have suggested in 1964 that Wechter form the Baja Marimba Band. "Composer Julius Wechter Dies At 63". Washington Post. February 7, 1999.
- Oliver, Myrna (February 4, 1999). "Julius Wechter; Led Baja Marimba Band". Los Angeles Times.
- 1935 births
- 1999 deaths
- American percussionists
- Musicians from Chicago
- The T-Bones members
- The Wrecking Crew (music) members
- Marimbists
- American vibraphonists
- 20th-century American musicians
- American session musicians
- Deaths from lung cancer in California
- Musicians from Los Angeles
- 20th-century American male musicians