Joe Reisman

Joseph Reisman (September 16, 1924, Dallas - September 15, 1987, Los Angeles) was an American musician (tenor and baritone saxophone, clarinet), bandleader, arranger, and record producer in the swing era.

Reisman studied at Baylor University and at the University of Texas at El Paso. He began his music career as a saxophonist in bands like Glen Gray's Casa Loma Orchestra, Louis Prima, Bob Crosby, Sam Donahue, Frankie Masters, and Jack Teagarden. As an arranger he worked for Ray Bauduc and Gene Williams. At the end of the 1940s he gave up an active career as a musician, and worked as an arranger and producer in the Hollywood studios. He arranged and conducted for Patti Page, accompanying her on her hits "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window", "Tennessee Waltz", and "Mockingbird Hill", and for Perry Como, including on "Catch a Falling Star" and "Papa Loves Mambo". He also worked on productions by Eartha Kitt ("Sho-Jo-Ji (The Hungry Raccoon)"), Sarah Vaughan, June Valli, Georgia Gibbs, Ann-Margret, Lena Horne, André Previn and the Ames Brothers.

In the mid-1950s he was the musical director of several television shows, including NBC's Shower of Stars and The Oldsmobile Hour; He also worked for RCA Victor and Roulette Records. At RCA and Roulette, he also recorded several albums in an easy listening style, and had a minor hit with a cover version of Ross Bagdasarian's "Armen's Theme". At the beginning of the 1960s, Reisman returned to RCA and then worked as a producer for Henry Mancini for almost thirty years, starting with his album Our Man in Hollywood (1964).

He died of a heart attack one day before his 63rd birthday on September 15, 1987 in Los Angeles. In 1996, his widow donated his collection of scores to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 16, 1924 (Dallas), Died September 15, 1987 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1957

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader

= 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 H2PB-0950 10-in. 1957 Westward ho, the wagons! Joe Reisman Orchestra ; Vaughn Monroe Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble and vocal ensemble leader  
Victor H2PB-0951 10-in. 1957 Wringle wrangle Joe Reisman Orchestra ; Vaughn Monroe Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble and vocal ensemble leader  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Reisman, Joe," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/359833.

Reisman, Joe. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/359833.

"Reisman, Joe." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/359833

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