Musikdatenbank

Musiker

Leon René

Leon René

geboren am 6.2.1902 in Covington, LA, USA

gestorben am 30.5.1982 in Los Angeles, CA, USA

Alias Jimmie Thomas

Leider verfügen wir zur Zeit noch über keine Biografie in deutscher Sprache.

Leon René

aus Wikipedia, der freien Enzyklopädie

Leon René (February 6, 1902 – May 30, 1982) was an American music composer of R&B and rock and roll songs in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. He sometimes used the songwriting pseudonym Jimmy Thomas or Jimmie Thomas. He also established several record labels.

History

Born in Covington, Louisiana He is best known for his hit song "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano". The song, written as a tribute to the annual springtime return of the Cliff Swallows to Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California, spent several weeks at the top of Your Hit Parade charts during its initial release in 1940. The lyrics say:

The song has been recorded by such musicians as The Ink Spots, Fred Waring, Guy Lombardo, and Glenn Miller. A glassed-off room in the mission has been designated in René's honor and displays the upright piano on which he composed the tune, the reception desk from his office and several copies of the song's sheet music and other pieces of furniture, all donated by René's family.

René's other works included "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" (with Clarence Muse and brother Otis René), "Gloria", and such rock staples as "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman", "Rockin' Robin", and "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus".

Labels

During the 1940s, with his brother and songwriting partner, Otis René, Leon René established and ran the independent rhythm and blues labels Exclusive Records and Excelsior Records. Otis was responsible for and publicly identified with Excelsior Records, while Leon was identified with Exclusive Records.[1] They had purchased their own record plant, but when the format changed from 78 rpm to 45rpm, they could not press the new speed, and the labels went out of business. Otis René's Excelsior label existed from 1944 to 1951. Leon René's Exclusive Records existed from 1944 to 1950.[2] Artists on Exclusive Records included Frantic Fay Thomas,[3] the Buddy Baker Sextet, Joe Liggins and Johnny Moore's Three Blazers.

Leon René then set up the Class Records label in 1951, with his son, Rafael "Googie" René and Preston Love.[4] René then issued successful recordings by his son, plus Oscar McLollie[5] and Bobby Day. Day also recorded as Bobby Byrd of The Hollywood Flames and Bob & Earl. In 1958, he set up the Rendezvous Record Company, which produced hits by B. Bumble and the Stingers, until it folded in 1963.

René died in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 80. He was the grandfather of former X Factor contestant Chris Rene.

Compositions (selective)

  • "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano"
  • "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" (with Clarence Muse and brother Otis René)
  • "Gloria"
  • "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman"
  • "Rockin' Robin"
  • "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus"
  • "Beyond The Stars"
  • "Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat"
  • "I'm Lost"

References

  1. Uncredited, Billboard, September 1, 1945, Buck-Five Disk of Indies Seen Different Ways. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  2. The Vocal Group Harmony Website,Herb Jeffries and Three Shades of Rhythm. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  3. The Vocal Group Harmony Website, Previous single artist record of the week--from the collection of Paul Ressler. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  4. Greg Prato, Biography of Leon René. Allmusic, retrieved 2012-03-15.
  5. Dik de Heer, Biography of Oscar McLollie; Black Cat Rockabilly Europe. Retrieved 2012-03-13.

External links

Diese Seite wurde zuletzt geändert am 11.03.2014 08:41:45

Dieser Artikel basiert auf dem Artikel Leon René aus der freien Enzyklopädie Wikipedia und steht unter der GNU-Lizenz für freie Dokumentation.
In der Wikipedia ist eine Liste der Autoren verfügbar.