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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMELACHRINO, George(b 1 May 1909, London; d 18 June 1965) Vocalist, composer, arranger, conductor; played viola, reeds including oboe, and piano. From a musical family, he began composing at age four; played solo violin in public at 13; formed a jazz band at Trinity College; broadcast on the BBC from '27, star billing by '38, played in the Savoy Orpheans. He led the British Band of the Allied Expeditionary Force (AEF): Glenn Miller led the US one, Robert Farnon the Canadian; Melachrino sang with all three. Post-war he formed the Melachrino Music Organization, generating concerts, broadcasts, recordings, film music etc including the Melachrino Orchestra, Melachrino Strings, the Blue Rockets, Masqueraders, Jack Cole's Music Masters, etc. He wrote music for the revue Starlight Roof; about 15 film scores including No Orchids For Miss Blandish '48, said to be one of the worst films ever made. He made about 100 78s, mostly on HMV; more than 50 LPs in the '50s (mostly on RCA in USA): Music for Dining, Music for Two People Alone, etc (see Mood Music). His writing for a chamber-music-sized string orchestra was better than average in this genre, his harmonic touch distinguishable from the rest. Later stereo LPs on ABC Paramount included Light Classics In Hi-Fi and Melachrino's Magic Strings. |