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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 ZSCHIFRIN, Lalo(b Boris Schifrin, 21 June '32, Buenos Aires, Argentina) Pianist, composer, arranger. Father played in Buenos Aires Philharmonic; he studied music, law, went to Paris on scholarship, represented Argentina at International Jazz Festival at Salle Pleyel '55. Formed 16- piece band in Argentina; encouraged by Dizzy Gillespie on a visit '56. Began composing, went to USA '58, worked with Gillespie '60--62 (wrote 'Gillespiana' and 'New Continent'), then for Quincy Jones; made his own eponymous album for Roulette and was soon busy at jazz festivals and writing TV and film music. Pop chart hits with Bossa Nova -- New Brazilian Jazz '62 on Audio Fidelity, Grammy-winning Music From Mission: Impossible '67 on Dot. He wrote albums such as Sweet Sass for Sarah Vaughan, Reflections for Stan Getz, The Cat for Jimmy Smith; also Dialogues For Jazz Quintet And Orchestra for Cannonball Adderley, Jazz Suite On The Mass Text for Paul Horn, Jazz Meets The Symphony '93 with Ray Brown, Grady Tate and the LPO; after More Jazz Meets The Symphony '94 the third in the series was Firebird '96 on Four Winds in USA, WEA in Europe, with a new arr. of the Mission: Impossible theme. Like Gunther Schuller (below) he hoped for a 'third stream' fusion of jazz and formal music, but it's difficult to talk the orchestra managers into it, and the albums do not sell well. His classical pieces incl. a concerto for double bass for Gary Karr, Cantos Aztecas for soloists, chorus and orchestra, much more; over 125 film scores '57--89 incl. Cincinnati Kid '65, Cool Hand Luke '67, Bullitt '68, Dirty Harry '71. With four Grammys and six Oscar nominations he is not short of work, incl. film Tango in Argentina and the Three Tenors world tour '96, as well as the Lili'uokalani Symphony on Urtext with choruses and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, on Hawaiian history. SCHLITZ, Don (b 29 Aug. '52, Durham NC) One of country music's most successful songwriters from late '70s through to today. Started out chasing career as singer. Moved to Nashville '73 worked as night computer operator at Vanderbilt University, writing songs by day. Cut self- penned 'The Gambler' for small Crazy Mamas label; cover versions by Hugh Moffatt, Bobby Bare, then the biggie by Kenny Rogers which went gold, won Grammy for Best Country Song '78; song also turned into a series of made-for-TV movies. Schlitz was signed to Capitol with top 100 single 'You're The One Who Rewote My Life Story' '79; album Dreamers Matinee was full of excellent original songs but failed to make further impact; he concentrated on songwriting. Has had more than 70 songs on charts incl. 20-plus that have made no.1 incl. 'Forever And Ever, Amen', 'When You Say Nothing At All', 'Strong Enough To Bend', 'Learning To Live Again', 'I Feel Lucky', etc. Won numerous Grammy, CMA and songwriting awards; inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall Of fame '93. SCHNEIDER, John (b 8 April '59, Mount Kisco NY) Country singer and actor who came to national prominence in the mid-'80s. During school years appeared in local community theatre production of Mikado; performed magic shows; acted in high school plays, commercials, bit parts in movies and on TV. Learnt to play guitar, played local clubs and recorded for small record labels. Landed role of Bo Duke in The Dukes Of Hazzard, popular TV series '78-85, opening doors for singing career; signed with Scotti Brothers Records '81 and had major hit with revival of 'It's Now Or Never'. Further pop and country hits followed '81-3; moved to MCA and hit no.1 country with 'I've Been Around Enough To Know' '84, 'Country Girls '85, 'What's A Memory Like You (Doing In A Love Like This)' '85, 'You're The Last Thing I Needed Tonight' '86. Unlike most actors who switched to country singing, he had a twang to his voice and natural, soulful feel for the music, but by the time he enjoyed his last country top ten entry with 'Love Ain't Seen the Last Of Me' '87 he was concentrating on the acting. Appeared in numerous made-for-TV movies incl. Dream House, Happy Endings, Stagecoach (with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson), Christmas Comes To Willow Creek and cinema films Eddie Macon's Run, Cocaine Wars, The Curse, Highway Heartbreaker, etc. Albums incl. Now Or Never '81, If You Believe '83 on Scotti Brothers; Too Good To Stop Now '84, Tryin' To Outrun The Wind '85, A Memory Like You '86, Take The Long Way Home '86, You Ain't Seen The Last Of Me '87. |