Jimmy Dale (musician)
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Dale is a Canadian arranger
, composer
, conductor
, organist
, and pianist
of English birth. He was active as a music director for both Canadian and United States television during the 1970s and 1980s. He has also composed several film and television score
s and written a number of tv theme songs
and jingle
s. He has also worked as an arranger and pianist for both performances and recordings with several notable artists.
, Dale immigrated to Canada with his family in 1947 at the age of 11. He attended The Royal Conservatory of Music for two years where he was a pupil of pianist Alma Allen. He also studied music theory
and music composition privately in Toronto with Gordon Delamont
.
Dale began his career playing in dance band
s and pit orchestra
s in Toronto during the 1950s. In 1957 he joined Peter Appleyard
's newly formed jazz ensemble with whom he played and toured for two years. In the early 1960s he began working for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
as a rehearsal pianist. He eventually was promoted to music director, notably serving in that capacity for the programs À la carte and In Person.
In 1969 Dale relocated to Hollywood where he worked as a music director for both CBS
and NBC
. Among the shows that he worked in this capacity for were The Smothers Brothers Show
(1969, CBS), The Andy Williams Show
(1969-1971, NBC), and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971-1973, CBS). For the latter show he was nominated for a Creative Arts Emmy Award for "outstanding achievement in the musical direction of a variety, musical or dramatic program" in 1972. He returned to Toronto, commuting to Los Angeles in 1973 to continue his work with CBS. He returned to Hollywood for a short time in 1975 to serve as music director of The Cher Show
.
Dale continued to work actively for the CBC in Toronto as a music director during the 1970s and 1980s. He was music director for the television programs Juliette and Friends
(1973-5) and The Bob McLean Show
(1975-81). He also worked in the same capacity for the CTV Television Network
program The Bobby Vinton Show
(1976-8), and for two privately syndicated series, Bizarre
(1978-84) and Super Dave
(beginning in 1987).
From 1974-1987 Dale was the pianist for Boss Brass with whom he made several recordings. He also was a regular performer in Toronto nightclubs from the 1960s through the 1980s, notably accompanying such artists as George Coleman
, Coleman Hawkins
, and Peggy Lee
among others. He also performed gigs with his own band, the Jimmy Dale Swingers. In 1968 he released the album Soft and Groovy and also appeared as a pianist on the album Juliette's Christmas World with the Jimmy Dale Swingers. His album Profiles was released in 1980 on the Intercan label. He also worked as a pianist on recordings by Appleyard and Basso.
, Crunch, The Execution of Raymond Graham, and Breakfast with Les and Bess
. He has also written music for the theatre, including writing the orchestration
s for the musicals Aimee! and Durante. As an arranger, Dale has put together works for albums by such notable artists as Eugene Amaro, Tommy Ambrose
, Denyse Angé, Keath Barrie, Guido Basso
, Mary Lou Collins, Cecile Frenette, and Bobby Vinton
.
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
of English birth. He was active as a music director for both Canadian and United States television during the 1970s and 1980s. He has also composed several film and television score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s and written a number of tv theme songs
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
and jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
s. He has also worked as an arranger and pianist for both performances and recordings with several notable artists.
Life
Born James Edwin Dale in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Dale immigrated to Canada with his family in 1947 at the age of 11. He attended The Royal Conservatory of Music for two years where he was a pupil of pianist Alma Allen. He also studied music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
and music composition privately in Toronto with Gordon Delamont
Gordon Delamont
Gordon Arthur Delamont was a Canadian music educator, author, composer, and trumpeter. He is best remembered for his work as an educator, having helped shape the talents of dozens of notable musicians in Toronto. He also published several books on musical theory topics which have been used widely...
.
Dale began his career playing in dance band
Dance band
Dance band can be one of several kinds of musical ensemble:* British dance band* Dansband, a Swedish pop genre* A Eurodance band...
s and pit orchestra
Pit orchestra
A pit orchestra is a type of orchestra that accompanies performers in musicals, operas, and other shows involving music. In performances of operas and ballets, the pit orchestra is typically similar in size to a symphony orchestra, though it may contain smaller string and brass sections, depending...
s in Toronto during the 1950s. In 1957 he joined Peter Appleyard
Peter Appleyard
Peter Appleyard, is a Canadian jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer of English birth. He has spent most of his life living and performing in the city of Toronto where for many years he was a highly popular performer in the city's nightclubs and hotels...
's newly formed jazz ensemble with whom he played and toured for two years. In the early 1960s he began working for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
as a rehearsal pianist. He eventually was promoted to music director, notably serving in that capacity for the programs À la carte and In Person.
In 1969 Dale relocated to Hollywood where he worked as a music director for both CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. Among the shows that he worked in this capacity for were The Smothers Brothers Show
The Smothers Brothers Show
The Smothers Brothers Show is an American fantasy sitcom featuring the Smothers Brothers that aired on CBS on Friday nights at 9:30 p.m. ET from September 17, 1965 to September 9, 1966, co-sponsored by Alberto-Culver's VO5 hairdressing products and American Tobacco...
(1969, CBS), The Andy Williams Show
The Andy Williams Show
The Andy Williams Show is a television variety show which ran from 1959 to 1971 , and a short-lived run in syndication, beginning in the fall of 1976...
(1969-1971, NBC), and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971-1973, CBS). For the latter show he was nominated for a Creative Arts Emmy Award for "outstanding achievement in the musical direction of a variety, musical or dramatic program" in 1972. He returned to Toronto, commuting to Los Angeles in 1973 to continue his work with CBS. He returned to Hollywood for a short time in 1975 to serve as music director of The Cher Show
The Cher Show
The Cher Show was a variety show that premiered on CBS in 1975. It was hosted by singer-actress, Cher. The show had many famous musical guests. It following a TV special, featuring Elton John, Bette Midler and Flip Wilson, The Cher Show premiered at 7.30pm on Sunday, February 16, 1975 and was an...
.
Dale continued to work actively for the CBC in Toronto as a music director during the 1970s and 1980s. He was music director for the television programs Juliette and Friends
Juliette and Friends
Juliette and Friends is a Canadian talk show television series which aired on CBC Television from 1973 to 1975.-Premise:This talk show was hosted by Juliette who was regularly featured on CBC Television and in her own series from the mid-1950s until 1966. Various topics were presented, with theme...
(1973-5) and The Bob McLean Show
The Bob McLean Show
The Bob McLean Show was a Canadian talk show television series which aired on CBC Television from 1975 to 1981.-Premise:CBC Television created this series in 1975 to replace Elwood Glover's Luncheon Date whose host had left the network for another Toronto-based broadcaster...
(1975-81). He also worked in the same capacity for the CTV Television Network
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
program The Bobby Vinton Show
The Bobby Vinton Show
The Bobby Vinton Show was a Canadian musical variety television series produced for the CTV Television Network between 1975 and 1978, with a total of 52 episodes broadcast. Starring Bobby Vinton, a best selling pop singer since the early 1960s, the series mixed comedy skits with musical interludes....
(1976-8), and for two privately syndicated series, Bizarre
Bizarre
Bizarre may refer to:*Bizarre , solo rapper as well as member of the group D12*Bizarre , Spanish rock band*Bizarre , a Canadian sketch comedy television series...
(1978-84) and Super Dave
Super Dave
Super Dave may refer to:*Super Dave Osborne, a fictional stuntman played by Bob Einstein*Super Dave , a variety show starring Osborne*Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire, an animated television series starring Osborne...
(beginning in 1987).
From 1974-1987 Dale was the pianist for Boss Brass with whom he made several recordings. He also was a regular performer in Toronto nightclubs from the 1960s through the 1980s, notably accompanying such artists as George Coleman
George Coleman
George Edward Coleman is an American hard bop saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, known chiefly for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s.-Biography:...
, Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn"...
, and Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
among others. He also performed gigs with his own band, the Jimmy Dale Swingers. In 1968 he released the album Soft and Groovy and also appeared as a pianist on the album Juliette's Christmas World with the Jimmy Dale Swingers. His album Profiles was released in 1980 on the Intercan label. He also worked as a pianist on recordings by Appleyard and Basso.
Work as a composer and arranger
As a composer, Dale has written several film and television score, including the music for B.S. I Love YouB.S. I Love You
B.S. I Love You is an American comedy-drama film from 1971. It was directed and written by Steven Hilliard Stern, and starred Peter Kastner. The supporting cast included Gary Burghoff, Louise Sorel, Joanna Cameron and Joanna Barnes...
, Crunch, The Execution of Raymond Graham, and Breakfast with Les and Bess
Breakfast with Les and Bess
Breakfast With Les and Bess was an Off-Broadway play written by Lee Kalcheim that originally premiered at Hudson Guild Theatre in October 1982 before transferring to Lamb's Theatre in May 1983.-Plot synopsis:...
. He has also written music for the theatre, including writing the orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
s for the musicals Aimee! and Durante. As an arranger, Dale has put together works for albums by such notable artists as Eugene Amaro, Tommy Ambrose
Tommy Ambrose
Tommy Ambrose is a Canadian singer-songwriter.He was a gospel music singer in his youth, performing on radio stations such as CFRB and CKEY and at Youth for Christ events...
, Denyse Angé, Keath Barrie, Guido Basso
Guido Basso
Guido Basso, CM is a jazz musician from Montreal. He started playing the trumpet when he was nine. Settling in Toronto in 1960, he became a studio trumpeter. He also occasionally played harmonica in-studio. In 1963, he became a music director for CBLT, a post he held until 1967...
, Mary Lou Collins, Cecile Frenette, and Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
.