Jose Melis
Wikimp3 information about the music of Jose Melis. On our website we have 7 albums and 17 collections of artist Jose Melis. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Jose Melis represents Jazz genres.
Biography
[Edit]Best known for trading barbs with headliner Jack Paar during a five-year stint as bandleader of NBC's The Tonight Show, pianist/arranger Jose Melis also cut a series of Latin-influenced easy listening recordings. Born Jose Melis Guiu in Havana, Cuba, on February 27, 1920, he studied at the Havana Conservatory of Music before continuing his education in Paris via Cuban government scholarship. At 16, he relocated to the U.S., where he graduated from the Julliard School of Music. While there Melis began moonlighting as a lounge pianist, and during World War II he served as musical director for the USO's New York City branch, where he first met actor/comedian Paar, a lifelong friend. After World War II Melis earned his U.S. citizenship, remaining a fixture of the New York City nightclub scene. When Paar signed to host a summer replacement series for radio's The Jack Benny Show in 1946, he named Melis his musical director, a position the pianist reclaimed for the CBS television variety showcase The Jack Paar Show, which aired from 1953 to 1956. When Paar was named to succeed Steve Allen as host of The Tonight Show, Melis was again in tow. With the orchestra on-stage (instead of relegated to the pit) and its leader regularly incorporated into the late-night chatter, Melis became a star in his own right, composing the show's theme, "I-M-4-U," and creating its popular "telephone game," improvising melodies based upon audience members' phone numbers. As his popularity grew he signed to the Seeco label for a series of LPs including Jose Melis at Midnight and The Many Moods of Jose Melis. A subsequent stint with Mercury yielded On Broadway and Tonight, It's Music. After Paar resigned his hosting duties in 1962, Melis toured behind Mel Tormé and Frank Sinatra, but health problems dogged him and he eventually lost his sight and hearing, dying from respiratory failure in Sun City, AZ, on April 7, 2005.
Collections
Title: Merry Christmas! Songs & Holiday Music
Genre: Jazz
Title: Christmas of Yesteryear
Genre: Pop
Title: I Heart Christmas
Genre: Kids
Title: The No. 1 Latin Jazz Album Ever!
Genre: Latin
Title: 100 Vintage Holiday Classics
Genre: Traditional Pop Music
Title: Christmas Piano Classics 2013
Genre: World Music
Title: Christmas Piano Essentials
Genre: World Music
Title: 40 Christmas Oldies
Genre: Pop
Title: The Best Vintage Tunes. Nuggets & Rarities Vol. 42
Genre: Pop
Title: A Very Merry Christmas to You!
Genre: Traditional Pop Music
Title: Timeless Christmas Holiday Instrumentals
Genre: New Age
Title: Christmas Songs Through the Years
Genre: Traditional Pop Music
Title: Retro Christmas Songs
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Merry Vintage Christmas!
Genre:
Title: Piano Music for Parties
Genre: Pop
Title: Feliz Navidad - Latino Retro X-Mas
Genre: Pop
Featuring albums
Title: Down at the Ugly Men's Lounge, Vol. 3 - Presented by Professor Bob
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Rock, Rock & Roll, Punk Rock