MovieMem - General News - RARE Jazz Find - Sammy Davis Jnr Musical Arrangements

Some years ago I acquired a leatherbound folder from the estate of Sammy Davis Jnr. The folder contains trumpet arrangements for many of the songs that the singer was associated with including "For Once in My Life" "Impossible Dream" and many more.

The majority of the arrangements are by George Rhodes and Morton Stevens. Some have notes in pencil and other markings.

If anyone has any information or thoughts about the history of these items I would appreciate it eg how rare these things are and where and when they might have been used.

Here are a couple of the arrangements.........

» Posted in General News | Add Comment

2 comments

On a number of occasions when I played in a band backing a Sinatra sound-alike singer Max Miller,the band book was made up of George Rhodes arrangements. Just where Max got them from is a mystery to me but if you were to contact him he would more than likely tell you John.
They weren't all Sinatra but many were for Sammy Davis Jr. too.

:: Posted by Victor Jory on 18 Dec 2007 3:15 PM

Thanks Vic
I will do some more research on George Rhodes. The other arranger of many of the songs in the folder is Morton Stevens. He has the distinction of composing one of the great TV themes of the 60s/70s - Hawaii 50.

Here are his credits....

Born: January 30, 1929 in Newark, New Jersey
Died: November 11, 1991 of cancer in Encino, California

TITLE THEMES THE CBS FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIES (1966-1978)
HAWAII FIVE-O (1968-1980)
THE STOREFRONT LAWYERS (1970-1971)
THE CBS LATE MOVIE (1972-1978)
Special presentation bumper (1973-~1989)
APPLE'S WAY (1974-1975)
POLICE WOMAN (1974-1978)
MATT HELM (1975-1976)
KHAN! (1975)
SPENCER'S PILOTS (1976)
THE ANDROS TARGETS (1977)
ARTHUR HAILEY'S WHEELS [part 4] (1978 miniseries)
BACKSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE (1979 miniseries)
WOMEN IN WHITE (1979 miniseries)
MASADA [parts 3 & 4] (UK: 1981 miniseries)
CODE RED (1981-1982)
THE MANIONS OF AMERICA (1981 miniseries)

:: Posted by John Reid on 18 Dec 2007 6:43 PM

Add Comment

Please enter your username or email address and password. If you have not registered before, also enter a screen name; this will be displayed with your comments. Your email address will not be displayed on the site.

Site built by Graphics Online