10-10-97
Laurindo Almeida was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1917. He just recently died in Los Angeles in 1995. Both jazz and classical guitar music were featured in his concerts and recordings. He introduced the bossa Nova sound, which originated in Brazil, to the US.
Musical compositions for tv shows and movies were part of his resume. Laurindo Almeida wrote for such shows as BONANZA and THE FUGITIVE. Movie credits included THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA, SPARTACUS, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS and a Clint Eastwood film, THE UNFORGIVEN. Five GRAMMIES are credited to his work.
Almeida's guitar playing was characterized by a light and sweet sound. Fiery dramatics were not often evident in his playing, but he was a master of creating moods.
The following Almeida guitar music has some additions of my own. Not that his composing needed my help, but rather, because it afforded me the opportunity to add my own expression.
Michael Caine
He played "Alfie" in the 1966 movie of the same title. With ALFIE, Caine became a sex symbol and received an Academy Award nomination for the role. Horned rim glasses have since become part of his trademark.
This is the only non Almeida arrangement on this page. I arranged it from a piano score.
ALFIE, by Burt Bacharach, MIDI
Ingrid Bergman
She starred in the film INTERMEZZO (1939) which was her introduction to Hollywood. The film also starred Leslie Howard of GONE WITH THE WIND fame. INTERMEZZO was one of the early solo productions of David O. Selznick.
INTERMEZZO (theme from the movie of the same title), by Robert Henning and Heinz Provost, MIDI
BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN: Elsa Lanchester, Colin Clive
The bride was supposed to be a helpmate to the original Frankenstein monster like Eve to Adam. But I think the monster had bigger problems than getting a bride - such as extracating himself from that burning building without getting his neckbolt singed. The music has no relationship to the picture, but I thought it was a fun image to include with Halloween coming up. Also the song and the movie were originated about a year apart.
BLUE MOON, by Rodgers and Hart, MIDI
Gene Autry
He didn't strum I'M ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS, I don't think. But Gene Autry is included here because he was the first movie star to feature guitar playing as part of his schtict. Even today, if a concert guitarist played J.S. BACH while sitting sidesaddle on a horse they they could sell a lot of tickets.
I'M ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS by Joseph McCarthy and Harry Carroll, MIDI
Laurindo Almeida
SPRING IS HERE, by Rodgers and Hart, MIDI
Scene from the movie LAURA with Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. Considered one of the best mystery films of the forties.
LAURA by Johnny Mercer and David Raskin, MIDI
Scene from ZORBA THE GREEK with Anthony Quinn playing Zorba and Lila Kedrova. She received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role.
THEME FROM "ZORBA THE GREEK" by Mikis Theodorakis, MIDI
THE ALAMO in Texas which was the subject of the film with the same title. The Green Leaves of Summer was featured in the film.
THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER by Paul Webster and Dimitri Tiomkin, MIDI
Still from the movie THE RAZOR'S EDGE with Ann Baxter (best supporting actress) and Tyrone Power. The music MAM'SELLE was the theme from the French Cafe Scene.
MAM'SELLE by Mack Gordon and Edmund Goulding, MIDI (with zylophon and guitar)