Wally Gold
Encyclopedia
Wally Gold was an American
musician
, singer, songwriter
, record producer
, and music business executive from Teaneck, New Jersey
.
with his wife and two young sons and was soon joined by the addition of his daughter. He had five grandchildren.
player in the U.S. Navy band during World War II
. After returning from Japan
he started college at Boston University
where he formed the singing group The Four Esquires
. Gold toured with The Four Esquires
in the late 1950s and had two hit singles "Love Me Forever" and "Hideaway". They also appeared on The Patty Page Show show and The Ed Sullivan Show
.
By 1960 Gold joined Aaron Schroeder
with whom he co-wrote two Elvis Presley Number 1 hits - "It's Now or Never
" (1960) and "Good Luck Charm
" (1962). During this period Gold also co-wrote Lesley Gore
's classic number 1 hit "It's My Party
". Gold's songs have been recorded by scores of artists, including Duane Eddy
's "Because They're Young" which peaked at #4, Gene Pitney
's "Half Heaven-Half Heartache" (#12) and "Take Me Tonight", Nat King Cole
's "Time and the River", as well as songs by Paul Petersen and Pat Boone. Wally has a total of 66 songs listed in the ASCAP Title Search database.
By the mid 1960s, Gold was hired as a house producer for Columbia Records
where he produced albums for Tony Bennett
and Jerry Vale
, and Barbara Streisand's 1969 album "What About Today?
".
In the 1970s, Gold moved over to work as Vice President/General Manager for Don Kirshner
's music organization where he discovered and produced the band Kansas. He worked on other successful projects as well, including a TV game show called Musical Chairs (1975) and a TV comedy A Year At The Top
(1977) (uncredited) starring Paul Shaffer
and Greg Evigan
. He also served as Musical Coordinator for the Rock Concert TV series.
After leaving the music business, Gold worked as a travel agent until his death in 1998 at the age of 70.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and music business executive from Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
.
Personal life
Gold was born on May 15, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York. Gold moved to Teaneck, New JerseyTeaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
with his wife and two young sons and was soon joined by the addition of his daughter. He had five grandchildren.
Career
Gold first performed as a SaxophoneSaxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player in the U.S. Navy band during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After returning from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
he started college at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
where he formed the singing group The Four Esquires
The Four Esquires
The Four Esquires were an American vocal group from Boston, Massachusetts. They had two hit singles in the U.S. late in the 1950s, both on Paris Records. The first, "Love Me Forever", featured orchestral backing by Sid Bass and peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957. It also reached #23 on...
. Gold toured with The Four Esquires
The Four Esquires
The Four Esquires were an American vocal group from Boston, Massachusetts. They had two hit singles in the U.S. late in the 1950s, both on Paris Records. The first, "Love Me Forever", featured orchestral backing by Sid Bass and peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957. It also reached #23 on...
in the late 1950s and had two hit singles "Love Me Forever" and "Hideaway". They also appeared on The Patty Page Show show and The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
.
By 1960 Gold joined Aaron Schroeder
Aaron Schroeder
Aaron Schroeder was an American songwriter and music publisher.-Biography:Born Aaron Harold Schroder , he graduated from the school now known as the Fiorello H...
with whom he co-wrote two Elvis Presley Number 1 hits - "It's Now or Never
It's Now or Never (song)
"It's Now or Never" is a popular song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company, in 1960. The melody of the song is adapted from the Italian standard, "'O Sole Mio", but the inspiration for it came from the song, "There's No Tomorrow", recorded by...
" (1960) and "Good Luck Charm
Good Luck Charm
"Good Luck Charm" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company, that reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list in the week ending April 21, 1962. It remained at the top of the list for two weeks. The song was written by Aaron Schroeder...
" (1962). During this period Gold also co-wrote Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore is an American singer. She is perhaps best known for her 1963 pop hit "It's My Party", which she recorded at the age of 16. Following the hit, she became one of the most recognized teen pop singers of the 1960s.- Biography :Gore was born in New York City, New York. She was raised in...
's classic number 1 hit "It's My Party
It's My Party (song)
"It's My Party" is a song most famously sung by American singer Lesley Gore in 1963. This song hit #1 on the pop and rhythm and blues charts in the United States. "It's My Party", peaked at #9 in the United Kingdom, becoming Gore's only major hit there...
". Gold's songs have been recorded by scores of artists, including Duane Eddy
Duane Eddy
Duane Eddy is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he had a string of hit records, produced by Lee Hazlewood, which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" sound, including "Rebel Rouser", "Peter Gunn", and "Because They're Young"...
's "Because They're Young" which peaked at #4, Gene Pitney
Gene Pitney
Eugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the...
's "Half Heaven-Half Heartache" (#12) and "Take Me Tonight", Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
's "Time and the River", as well as songs by Paul Petersen and Pat Boone. Wally has a total of 66 songs listed in the ASCAP Title Search database.
By the mid 1960s, Gold was hired as a house producer for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
where he produced albums for Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
and Jerry Vale
Jerry Vale
Jerry Vale is an American singer.-Career:In high school, in order to make some money, he took a job shining shoes in a barbershop in New York City. He sang while he shined shoes, and his boss liked the sound so well that he paid for music lessons for the boy...
, and Barbara Streisand's 1969 album "What About Today?
What About Today?
What About Today? is an album released in July 1969 by Barbra Streisand. It is considered to be her first attempt at recording contemporary pop songs and was received poorly, peaking at number 31 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart...
".
In the 1970s, Gold moved over to work as Vice President/General Manager for Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner , known as "The Man With the Golden Ear", was an American song publisher and rock producer who is best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups, such as The Monkees, Kansas and The Archies.-Early life:Don Kirshner was born to Gilbert Kirshner, a tailor,...
's music organization where he discovered and produced the band Kansas. He worked on other successful projects as well, including a TV game show called Musical Chairs (1975) and a TV comedy A Year At The Top
A Year at the Top
A Year at the Top is an American sitcom which aired for five episodes on CBS in 1977. Produced by T.A.T. Communications Company, the series was created by Heywood Kling and co-executive produced by Don Kirshner and Norman Lear.-Synopsis:...
(1977) (uncredited) starring Paul Shaffer
Paul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
and Greg Evigan
Greg Evigan
Gregory Ralph "Greg" Evigan is an American actor best known for the TV series B.J. and the Bear, My Two Dads, P.S. I Luv U and TekWar.-Personal life:...
. He also served as Musical Coordinator for the Rock Concert TV series.
After leaving the music business, Gold worked as a travel agent until his death in 1998 at the age of 70.