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==Career== ==Career==
===Nashville=== ===Nashville===
In 1948, shortly after moving from ] to ], Kerr organized a vocal quintet whose performances attracted the attention of a ] radio program director. He hired Kerr to become leader of and arranger for an octet choir on the radio station's "Sunday Down South" broadcasts. Joining Kerr were singers Carl Garvin, Jim Hall, Doug Kirkham, Mary Ellen Puckett, Evelyn Wilson, Mildred Kirkham, and Don Fotrell. The group's first recording session was with ], and their collaboration resulted in a #16 hit on ]'s Pop chart in 1950: ''Our Lady of Fatima.'' The following year, producer ] signed them to record for ]. Their talents in demand, Kerr's group continued to sing backup for other ] artists in ], including ], ], and ]. The group's recording sessions--initially averaging two per week--increased to eight sessions weekly by 1955.<ref name="one">, a Few Notes</ref> In 1948, shortly after moving from ] to ], Anita organized a vocal quintet whose performances attracted the attention of a ] radio program director. He hired Anita to become leader of and arranger for an octet choir on the radio station's "Sunday Down South" broadcasts. Joining Anita were singers Carl Garvin, Jim Hall, Doug Kirkham, Mary Ellen Puckett, Evelyn Wilson, Mildred Kirkham, and Don Fotrell. The group's first recording session was with ], and their collaboration resulted in a #16 hit on ]'s Pop chart in 1950: ''Our Lady of Fatima.'' The following year, producer ] signed them to record for ]. Their talents in demand, Anita's group continued to sing backup for other ] artists in ], including ], ], and ]. The group's recording sessions--initially averaging two per week--increased to eight sessions weekly by 1955.<ref name="one">, a Few Notes</ref>


In 1956, Anita Kerr's singers won a contest on the "]'s Talent Scouts" national television program. Now a quartet, the group traveled to ] two weeks out of every six to appear with ] on his daily television and radio broadcasts. A few years later, Kerr and her singers performed five times a week with ] on his national radio program at ]. The quartet's roster at this time featured, definitively, tenor Gil Wright, baritone Louis Nunley, alto Dottie Dilliard, and Anita Kerr herself as both soprano and arranger. Demand for the group's talents exploded. Singers and arranger soon began contributing to between twelve and eighteen recording sessions weekly.<ref name="one">, a Few Notes</ref> Having previously backed ], ], and ] on ] radio transcription sessions, the Anita Kerr Singers were invited to record their own songs for ]. Between 1959 and 1963, the group waxed sixty ] tracks. In 1960, as "The Little Dippers," the group recorded a hit single--''Forever''--for the University label. Crediting herself as "Anita & Th' So-And-So's," Kerr multi-tracked her own voice to record the song ''Joey Baby'', another hit in 1961. In 1956, Anita Kerr's singers won a contest on the "]'s Talent Scouts" national television program. Now a quartet, the group traveled to ] two weeks out of every six to appear with ] on his daily television and radio broadcasts. A few years later, Anita and her singers performed five times a week with ] on his national radio program at ]. The quartet's roster at this time featured, definitively, tenor Gil Wright, baritone Louis Nunley, alto Dottie Dilliard, and Anita Kerr herself as both soprano and arranger. Demand for the group's talents exploded. Singers and arranger soon began contributing to between twelve and eighteen recording sessions weekly.<ref name="one">, a Few Notes</ref> Having previously backed ], ], and ] on ] radio transcription sessions, the Anita Kerr Singers were invited to record their own songs for ]. Between 1959 and 1963, the group waxed sixty ] tracks. In 1960, as "The Little Dippers," the group recorded a hit single--''Forever''--for the University label. Crediting herself as "Anita & Th' So-And-So's," Anita multi-tracked her own voice to record the song ''Joey Baby'', another hit in 1961.


The Anita Kerr Singers signed with ] in 1961. Their first album for the label--'''''From Nashville...The Hit Sound'''''--showcases what writer Dave Samuelson calls Kerr's distinctive contribution to "]'s evolution from ] and Western swing into a more mainstream, uptown sound." Subsequent ] ] extended the quartet's repertoire as they explored the ] songs of ] and the sweet and ] compositions of ]. The group's 1965 album '''''We Dig Mancini''''' won a ] for Best Performance by a Vocal Group. In addition to recording as themselves, the Singers continued to perform as backup singers in ]. Using Kerr's arrangements, they can be heard on songs by ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and many other artists.<ref name="two">http://www.anitakerr.com/</ref> Under her ] contract, Kerr also arranged and produced a series of albums for The Living Voices on the ] budget label. The Anita Kerr Singers signed with ] in 1961. Their first album for the label--'''''From Nashville...The Hit Sound'''''--showcases what writer Dave Samuelson calls Kerr's distinctive contribution to "]'s evolution from ] and Western swing into a more mainstream, uptown sound." Subsequent ] ] extended the quartet's repertoire as they explored the ] songs of ] and the sweet and ] compositions of ]. The group's 1965 album '''''We Dig Mancini''''' won a ] for Best Performance by a Vocal Group. In addition to recording as themselves, the Singers continued to perform as backup singers in ]. Using Anita's arrangements, they can be heard on songs by ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and many other artists.<ref name="two">http://www.anitakerr.com/</ref> Under her ] contract, Anita also arranged and produced a series of albums for The Living Voices on the ] budget label.


In 1964, together with ] and ], the Anita Kerr Singers toured ]. ], ], please access the first External Link below.] In 1964, together with ] and ], the Anita Kerr Singers toured ]. ], ], please access the first External Link below.]

Revision as of 16:55, 26 September 2009

Anita Kerr (born Anita Jean Grilli on October 31, 1927, in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American singer, arranger, composer, conductor, pianist, and music producer. She recorded and performed successfully with her vocal harmony groups in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Europe.

Career

Nashville

In 1948, shortly after moving from Memphis to Nashville, Anita organized a vocal quintet whose performances attracted the attention of a WSM radio program director. He hired Anita to become leader of and arranger for an octet choir on the radio station's "Sunday Down South" broadcasts. Joining Anita were singers Carl Garvin, Jim Hall, Doug Kirkham, Mary Ellen Puckett, Evelyn Wilson, Mildred Kirkham, and Don Fotrell. The group's first recording session was with Red Foley, and their collaboration resulted in a #16 hit on Billboard's Pop chart in 1950: Our Lady of Fatima. The following year, producer Owen Bradley signed them to record for Decca Records. Their talents in demand, Anita's group continued to sing backup for other country artists in Nashville, including Eddy Arnold, Burl Ives, and Ernest Tubb. The group's recording sessions--initially averaging two per week--increased to eight sessions weekly by 1955.

In 1956, Anita Kerr's singers won a contest on the "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" national television program. Now a quartet, the group traveled to New York two weeks out of every six to appear with Godfrey on his daily television and radio broadcasts. A few years later, Anita and her singers performed five times a week with Jim Reeves on his national radio program at WSM. The quartet's roster at this time featured, definitively, tenor Gil Wright, baritone Louis Nunley, alto Dottie Dilliard, and Anita Kerr herself as both soprano and arranger. Demand for the group's talents exploded. Singers and arranger soon began contributing to between twelve and eighteen recording sessions weekly. Having previously backed Faron Young, Chet Atkins, and Webb Pierce on SESAC radio transcription sessions, the Anita Kerr Singers were invited to record their own songs for SESAC. Between 1959 and 1963, the group waxed sixty SESAC tracks. In 1960, as "The Little Dippers," the group recorded a hit single--Forever--for the University label. Crediting herself as "Anita & Th' So-And-So's," Anita multi-tracked her own voice to record the song Joey Baby, another hit in 1961.

The Anita Kerr Singers signed with RCA Victor in 1961. Their first album for the label--From Nashville...The Hit Sound--showcases what writer Dave Samuelson calls Kerr's distinctive contribution to "country music's evolution from honky-tonk and Western swing into a more mainstream, uptown sound." Subsequent RCA Victor LPs extended the quartet's repertoire as they explored the soul songs of Ray Charles and the sweet and swing compositions of Henry Mancini. The group's 1965 album We Dig Mancini won a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group. In addition to recording as themselves, the Singers continued to perform as backup singers in Nashville. Using Anita's arrangements, they can be heard on songs by Brenda Lee, Perry Como, Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Vinton, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Floyd Cramer, Al Hirt, Ann-Margret, and many other artists. Under her RCA contract, Anita also arranged and produced a series of albums for The Living Voices on the RCA Camden budget label.

In 1964, together with Chet Atkins and Jim Reeves, the Anita Kerr Singers toured Europe.

Los Angeles

In 1965, disbanding the Nashville version of her Anita Kerr Singers, Kerr relocated to Los Angeles "to do more orchestral writing and music that was not just country." Now under contract to Warner Bros. Records, Kerr formed a Los Angeles version of the Anita Kerr Singers, which, for the next five years, would include the following personnel: alto B.J Baker or Jackie Ward, tenor Gene Merlino or Bill Cole, baritone Bill Lee, bass Bob Tebow, and Kerr herself as soprano and arranger. The half dozen albums recorded by the Singers for Warner included a cover version of the song All You Need Is Love by The Beatles, and one of the LPs was exclusively devoted to the songs of composer Bert Kaempfert. Disguising the group as The Mexicali Singers, Kerr also recorded a trio of mariachi-flavored albums with musical arrangements reminiscent of the Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass sound.

In the 1960s, Kerr composed and recorded numerous jingles for use by various American radio stations, including: Gene Autry's KMPC AM-710 in Los Angeles, California; WLS AM-890 in Chicago, Illinois; and WGH AM-1310 in Newport News, Virginia.

In early 1967, Kerr signed on as choral director for the first season of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. She also conducted the choir and orchestra during the sessions for It's Real, a 1967 Capitol LP by singer Dale Evans.

In 1967, Kerr, collaborating with poet Rod McKuen, composed, arranged, and conducted music for an instrumental/spoken-word album called The Sea. Credited as a San Sebastian Strings release, the best-selling LP--co-produced by Kerr and Rod--was the first of a dozen San Sebastian Strings albums featuring Kerr's music, Rod's words, and specific themes about nature and love.

The Anita Kerr Singers also recorded a pair of albums for Philips Records, one of which paid tribute to their association with country singer Jim Reeves--I Sang With Jim Reeves.

In 1969, Kerr signed with Dot Records. The Anita Kerr Singers Reflect on the Hits of Burt Bacharach & Hal David was the group's first and Edison-Award-winning album for Dot. The Anita Kerr Singers also recorded a pair of Dot Christmas-music LPs. In the late 1960s, Kerr not only recorded and performed with her own group, but she also arranged and produced records for other unique artists, including the Mystic Monks, Les Tres Guitars, and Teresa. Kerr's 1970 Dot album Touchlove was the first LP to showcase her skills as a pianist.

Europe

Kerr moved to Switzerland in 1970. Her recording sessions held in London, she launched The Anita Kerr Singers anew with UK talent: Anne Simmons, Alan Lynton, and Danny Street. In 1971, the Singers recorded the LP A Tribute to Simon and Garfunkel. That same year, Kerr wrote original music and lyrics for the Ampex album A Christmas Story, and she felt privileged to conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra during the recording sessions

In 1972, Kerr wrote--and MCA Music published--a 103-page book (accompanied by five 45rpm records) called VOICES. With Complete Recorded Examples. That same year, the Anita Kerr Singers recorded two LPs for Philips and Kerr scored and conducted original music for the motion picture soundtrack to Limbo, a drama starring Kate Jackson. During the early 1970s, Kerr also made numerous personal appearances on television in Holland.

In 1974, Kerr began a five-year professional relationship with Word Records. In addition to recording four gospel albums with the Singers, Kerr arranged and produced a series of Hallelujah... instrumental albums for Word. She received Grammy nominations twice for her Word inspirational recordings.

During these years, Kerr also wrote choral and instrumental arrangements for Hal Leonard Corporation, the world's largest music print publisher.

In 1975, Anita Kerr received a special ASCAP Award saluting " lady of class and a first-class musician for her significant contributions to the birth and development of the Nashville Sound."

Between 1977 and 1988, Kerr continued to perform and record for a variety of record labels. The following LPs distinguish her work from this period: Anita Kerr Performs Wonders--as a singer/arranger; The Sound of Warm--as a pianist/arranger; and In The Soul--as a composer/arranger.

In 1985, Kerr conducted her own composition of Piano, Piano as the Swiss entry for the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest in Göteborg, Sweden.

In 1992, Kerr received a NARAS Governors Award " recognition of outstanding contribution to American Music."

Discography

Singles

  • Borrowed Angel/My Evening Prayer
  • Have Faith/Pray
  • Road Up Ahead/God Has Been Good To Me
  • One Hour Ahead (with Burl Ives)/This Time Tomorrow (with Burl Ives)
  • Church In The Wildwood (with Marie Knight)/He's My Light (with Marie Knight)
  • Promise And A Prayer/My Grandmother's Place
  • Brighten The Corner Where You Are (with Burl Ives)/Great White Bird (with Burl Ives)
  • Don't Turn Around (with Sunshine Sue)/Over The Valley (with Sunshine Sue)
  • Vision Of The Blessed Mother/God Is Everywhere
  • After You/Not Mine
  • In The Middle Of An Island/For You
  • Keep Your Belt Buttoned Up Baby/Give In Give In (Steig in das Traumboot)
  • My Love Is A Kitten/Strange Little Melody
  • For You For Me Forevermore/Why Can't This Night Go On
  • So-And-So's Tell Tale/To Each His Own
  • Waitin' For The Evening Train (with Chet Atkins)/Guitar Country (with Chet Atkins)
  • Copper Kettle/Summer Green And Winter White
  • A Man And A Woman/Just Say Goodbye
  • One In A Row/Ever Constant Sea
  • I Can't Help Remembering/For Burt
  • Smile You Save For Strangers/In The Morning
  • No Salt On Her Tail/All This
  • One Day/One Up On Me
  • Wine In The Wind/Happiness
  • Alfie/A House Is Not A Home
  • Lalena/Suppose
  • Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da/You And I
  • Coco/Money Rings Out Like Freedom
  • Eli's Coming/Something
  • Shine Shine/Medley
  • Angels We Have Heard On High/O Holy Night
  • Mary Kaye's Theme/Where Do I Go From Here
  • At Seventeen/Masterpiece

Albums with the Anita Kerr Singers

  • On This Holy Night
  • Velvet Voices Through the Night as The Anita Kerr Quartet with Strings
  • Four Voices in Hi-Fi as The Anita Kerr Quartet
  • For You, For Me, Forevermore as The Anita Kerr Quartette
  • From Nashville...The Hit Sound
  • Vocal Stylings of "The Genius" in Harmony featuring the songs and hits of Ray Charles
  • Tender Words
  • Mellow Moods of Love
  • We Dig Mancini as The Anita Kerr Quartet
  • A Sunday Serenade as The Anita Kerr Quartet
  • And Now...The Anita Kerr Orchestra!
  • Slightly Baroque
  • Bert Kaempfert Turns Us On!
  • All You Need Is Love
  • My Coloring Book
  • I Sang With Jim Reeves
  • Sounds
  • Georgia On My Mind --reissue of Anita's Vocal Stylings of "The Genius" in Harmony LP
  • Till the End of Time --reissue of Anita's For You, For Me, Forevermore LP
  • The Anita Kerr Singers Reflect on the Hits of Burt Bacharach & Hal David
  • Velvet Voices and Bold Brass
  • Spend This Holiday With Me
  • It's Anita Kerr Country
  • Anita Kerr '70
  • Christmas with Anita Kerr
  • Daytime Nighttime
  • A Tribute to Simon and Garfunkel
  • Grow to Know Me
  • A Christmas Story with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Sentimental Journey
  • 'Round Midnight
  • Gentle as Morning
  • Walk a Little Slower
  • Precious Memories
  • Thank You, Lord

Various Releases

Living Voices LPs

Arranged and produced by Anita Kerr.

The Mexicali Singers LPs

Featuring The Anita Kerr Singers

  • The Mexicali Singers
  • The Further Adventures of the Mexicali Singers
  • 'The Mexicali Singers Ride Again

The San Sebastian Strings LPs

Music and arrangements by Anita Kerr. Words by Rod McKuen. Co-produced by Anita Kerr and Rod McKuen.

  • The Sea
  • The Earth
  • The Sky
  • The Sea/The Earth/The Sky
  • Home to the Sea
  • For Lovers
  • The Complete Sea
  • The Soft Sea
  • Winter
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • The Seasons
  • Bouquet: The Best of the San Sebastian Strings
  • With Love

Miscellaneous

  • Near the Cross: Sacred Songs sung by Jimmie Davis by Jimmie Davis as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • Hymn Time by Jimmie Davis as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • The Door Is Always Open by Jimmie Davis as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • He Walks With Thee by Red Foley as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • Hail Him With A Song by Jimmie Davis as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • The Versatile Burl Ives! by Burl Ives as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • The Scene Changes by Perry Como as The Anita Kerr Quartet
  • Southland Favorites by George Beverly Shea as The Anita Kerr Quartet
  • George Beverly Shea Sings Southland Songs That Life the Heart by George Beverly Shea as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • It's Real by Dale Evans chorus and orchestra conducted by Anita Kerr
  • Amazing Grace by Jimmie Davis --reissue of Jimmie's Hail Him With A Song with two songs omitted
  • Closing the Gap by the Mystic Monks Anita Kerr as arranger/producer
  • Yestergroovin' by Les Tres Guitars Anita Kerr as arranger/producer
  • Anita Kerr Presents Teresa Anita Kerr as arranger/producer
  • Touchlove Anita Kerr as pianist/arranger/producer
  • In My Father's House by Jimmie Davis --reissue of Jimmie's The Door Is Always Open LP with two songs omitted
  • I Believe by Red Foley --reissue of Red's He Walks With Thee LP with two songs omitted
  • Hallelujah Brass Anita Kerr as arranger/producer
  • Hymns Anita Kerr and Kurt Kaiser
  • Hallelujah Guitars Anita Kerr as arranger/producer
  • Hallelujah Woodwinds Anita Kerr as arranger/producer
  • Anita Kerr and the French Connection Anita Kerr as pianist/arranger/producer
  • The Sound of Warm Anita Kerr as pianist/arranger/producer
  • Hallelujah Voices Anita Kerr as arranger/producer
  • Anita Kerr Performs Wonders Anita Kerr performs the songs of Stevie Wonder
  • Together Anita Kerr, Harry van Hoof, and Pieter van Vollenhoven
  • In The Soul Anita Kerr performs original music around the poetry of Walt Whitman
  • Music is her Name --compilation of songs reissued from Anita's Sentimental Journey and 'Round Midnight LPs, respectively
  • Anita Kerr's Christmas Story: The Angel in the Faded Blue Jeans --reissue of Anita's A Christmas Story LP
  • Two Classic Albums from The Anita Kerr Singers --reissue of Anita's The Anita Kerr Singers Reflect on the Hits of Burt Bacharach & Hal David and Velvet Voices and Bold Brass LPs, respectively
  • The Jim Reeves Radio Show: Monday, February 24, 1958 as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • The Jim Reeves Radio Show: February 25-28, 1958 as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • Mr. Guitar: The Complete Recordings 1955-1960 by Chet Atkins --includes 20 SESAC recordings with The Anita Kerr Singers
  • Velvet Voices as The Anita Kerr Quartet
  • Mansion Over The Hilltop with Faron Young; as The Anita Kerr Singers
  • On This Holy Night --reissue of Anita's On This Holy Night LP

Awards and Honors

  • 1965: The Anita Kerr Singers album We Dig Mancini won a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group.
  • 1965: George Beverly Shea's album Southland Favorites--to which The Anita Kerr Quartet contributed--won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording (Musical).
  • 1966: The Anita Kerr Singers single A Man and A Woman won a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group.
  • 1970: The Anita Kerr Singers album The Anita Kerr Singers Reflect on the Hits of Burt Bacharach & Hal David won an Edison Award.
  • 1976: The Anita Kerr Singers album Gentle as Morning was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance.
  • 1976: The Anita Kerr Singers album Walk a Little Slower won a GMA Dove Award for Best Gospel Record Album of the Year by a Non-Gospel Artist.
  • 1977: The Anita Kerr Singers album Precious Memories was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance.

References

  1. ^ http://www.anitakerr.com/no_flash/index_no.html, a Few Notes
  2. http://www.anitakerr.com/
  3. http://www.anitakerr.com/content/gallery_content/gallery_euro/euro_dd.html
  4. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068860/
  5. ^ http://www.anitakerr.com/content/timeline_content/timeline_body_mile.html
  6. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058331/
  7. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060983/

External links

  1. The (Nashville) Anita Kerr Singers In Concert: Oslo, Norway, 1964
  2. The (Los Angeles) Anita Kerr Singers on a Dutch television show
  3. Anita Kerr: The Official Site
  4. Audio samples of Anita Kerr's jingles for:
    1. KMPC AM-710 in Los Angeles, California
    2. WLS AM-890 in Chicago, Illinois
    3. WGH AM-1310 in Newport News, Virginia
  5. Anita Kerr Arrangements published by Hal Leonard Corporation
  6. Space Age Pop page entry
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