Paul Wetstein

Paul Weston (born Paul Wetstein; March 12, 1912 – September 20, 1996) was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor who worked in music and television from the 1930s to the 1970s, pioneering mood music and becoming known as "the Father of Mood Music". His compositions include popular music songs such as "I Should Care", "Day by Day", and "Shrimp Boats". He also wrote classical pieces, including "Crescent City Suite" and religious music, authoring several hymns and masses.

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Weston had a keen interest in music from an early age and learned to play the piano. He was educated at Springfield High School, then attended Dartmouth College and Columbia University.

At Dartmouth he formed his own band and toured with the college band. He joined Columbia's dance band, The Blue Lions, but was temporarily unable to perform following a rail accident, and did some arrangements while he recovered. He sold his first arrangements to Joe Haymes in 1934. When Haymes requested more material, Weston's music was heard by Rudy Vallée, who offered him work on his radio show. Weston met Tommy Dorsey through Haymes and in 1936 became a member of Dorsey's orchestra. He persuaded Dorsey to hire The Pied Pipers after hearing them in 1938, and the group toured with the bandleader.

After leaving Dorsey in 1940, Weston worked with Dinah Shore and moved to Hollywood when he was offered film work. In California he met Johnny Mercer, who invited him to write for his new label, Capitol Records. Weston became music director there, where he worked with singer Jo Stafford and developed the mood music genre. Stafford moved with him to Columbia Records in 1950, and they were married in 1952.

Weston worked extensively in television from the 1950s to the 1970s. He helped start the Grammy Awards, which were first presented in 1959. He was honored with a Grammy Trustees Award in 1971 and spent three years as music director of Disney on Parade.

Weston and Stafford developed a comedy routine where they assumed the guise of a bad lounge act named Jonathan and Darlene Edwards. Their first album was released in 1957. In 1960, their album Jonathan and Darlene Edwards in Paris won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. Weston's work in music is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 12, 1912 (Springfield), Died September 20, 1996 (Santa Monica)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: conductor

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-048470 10-in. 3/28/1940 Just a-whistlin' and a-whittlin' (and a-watchin' the world go by) Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-048471 10-in. 3/28/1940 Imagination Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-048472 10-in. 3/28/1940 Say it Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-048473 10-in. 3/28/1940 Shake down the stars Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-051561 10-in. 6/25/1940 How come you do me like you do? Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-051562 10-in. 6/25/1940 Smoke gets in your eyes Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-051563 10-in. 6/25/1940 The nearness of you Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-051564 10-in. 6/25/1940 Maybe Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-063875 10-in. 5/9/1941 Do you care? Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-063876 10-in. 5/9/1941 Jim Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-063877 10-in. 5/9/1941 Where you are Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-063878 10-in. 5/9/1941 Mocking bird lament Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-066176 10-in. 7/2/1941 You and I Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-066177 10-in. 7/2/1941 All alone Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-066178 10-in. 7/2/1941 If it's you Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor BS-066179 10-in. 7/2/1941 On a bicycle built for two (Daisy Bell) Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor PBS-072483 10-in. 7/21/1942 A boy in khaki—a girl in lace Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor PBS-072485 10-in. 7/21/1942 Manhattan serenade Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor PBS-072558 10-in. 7/30/1942 (As long as you're not in love with anyone else) Why don't you fall in love with me Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor PBS-072559 10-in. 7/30/1942 Dearly beloved Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor PBS-072560 10-in. 7/30/1942 (Nobody knows better than I) He's my guy Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  
Victor PBS-072561 10-in. 7/30/1942 You'd be so nice to come home to Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band conductor  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wetstein, Paul," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210914.

Wetstein, Paul. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210914.

"Wetstein, Paul." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210914

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