Background
He was born in Toronto, Canada, one of eight children of Abraham Faith, a tailor, and Minnie Rotenberg.
((3CD) 46 lush tunes from the great bandleader including t...)
(3CD) 46 lush tunes from the great bandleader including the chart-topping hits 'All My Love' 'Delicado' & 'Theme from 'A Summer Place''
https://www.amazon.com/Real-Percy-Faith-His-Ochestra/dp/B01B2M9M62?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01B2M9M62
(EU-only four CD set containing a total of six albums from...)
EU-only four CD set containing a total of six albums from the composer, conductor and Easy Listening icon. Includes the albums Viva: The Music Of Mexico, South Pacific, Bouquet, Sound Of Music, Exotic Strings and The Music Of Brazil. Real Gone Jazz.
https://www.amazon.com/6-Classic-Albums-Percy-Faith/dp/B00CM1S1VK?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00CM1S1VK
composer conductor music arranger
He was born in Toronto, Canada, one of eight children of Abraham Faith, a tailor, and Minnie Rotenberg.
Percy's musical interests and ambitions began at an early age. Faith studied at the Canadian Academy and at age fourteen commenced a serious study of classical music with Frank Welsman at the Toronto Conservatory of Music.
Thereafter, he performed regularly for silent movies, earning $3 per night. At age fifteen, he made his debut as a concert pianist at Massey Hall in Toronto.
However, at age eighteen Faith severely burned his hands while putting out a fire on his five-year-old sister's clothing. Although he saved her life, he was unable to play the piano for some time. In spite of this, he took up arranging, studying harmony and composition.
Financial difficulties prevented Faith from completing his studies at the conservatory.
A break came in 1934 when he was hired as an arranger and conductor by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. By 1937 he had his own program, "Music by Faith. " The show was an enormous success and was eventually broadcast throughout North America and Hawaii. "Music by Faith" aired for seven years and was the most popular show on the network.
Advised by associates to go to the United States, in 1940 Faith auditioned for NBC's "The Carnation Contented Hour. " He was hired as conductor for the popular radio show and moved to New York City.
That year he became an American citizen. This was the start of an American career that would span three decades and three forms of American media: radio, television, and film. After the NBC engagement ended in 1947, he became musical director of "The Pause That Refreshes, " a show on CBS sponsored by Coca-Cola, and later "The Woolworth Hour" (CBS, 1955 - 1957).
In 1951, Faith became musical director at Columbia Records. As head of the Artists and Repertoire Division, he helped develop such stars as Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Laine, Jerry Vale, Doris Day, Guy Mitchell, and Johnny Mathis.
His own prolific recording career was under way as well. He recorded dozens of albums with Columbia, including both arrangements and original compositions. His most successful record was "My Heart Cries for You"; "Brazilian Sleighbells" was also a big hit. Faith also arranged countless Broadway scores, including Kismet, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, and Camelot. These were great popular successes.
He recorded arrangements of George Gershwin's music as well.
In 1960, Faith moved to Los Angeles, where he continued to work for Columbia Records. He turned his musical attention to the film industry he loved. His first film score, Love Me or Leave Me (1955), written with Georgie Stoll, received an Academy Award nomination.
Other film scores were also successful, such as The Third Day (1963), I'd Rather Be Rich (1964), The Love Goddesses (1964), and The Oscar (1966). Later, he arranged Tara's theme from Gone with the Wind and the theme song from A Summer Place, both of which were originally composed by Max Steiner. In total, he wrote scores for eleven movies. As determined as he was to succeed, Faith was equally determined to keep his private life out of the public eye.
He frequently visited Canada, but geography, time, and personal changes distanced him from his past.
He found Canada too provincial and his old friends envious of his American success.
Another Faith trademark was to turn a simple melody into a full-scale orchestration, loaded with violins and vivid tone color. At the peak of his popularity, Faith's own forty-five member orchestra performed his arrangements worldwide.
Some critics say he elevated "easy listening" to an art form. At the pinnacle of his career in the 1950's, he reflected an era, one that was to take its place in history as a quiet, unprovocative, and traditional time.
Faith died in Los Angeles after a four-year struggle with cancer.
((3CD) 46 lush tunes from the great bandleader including t...)
(EU-only four CD set containing a total of six albums from...)
As determined as he was to succeed, Faith was equally determined to keep his private life out of the public eye.
Unpretentious but also quite handsome, Faith, who loved Los Angeles, disdained the glitzy Hollywood social scene.
He was married in 1929 to a teenage sweetheart, Mary Palange, who remained his lifelong companion. They had two children.