Monday, February 06, 2017

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Raymond Lefevre and his Orchestra

Artist:Raymond Lefevre and his Orchestra
Song:Soul Coaxing (Ame Caline)
Album:The Golden Age Of American Popular Music: Hits With Strings and Things




Here's a song you have probably heard. Those who listen to the British radio station Radio Caroline should be very familiar with it as it was the station theme for years. The record charted in 1968 and it very popular in the Easy Listening market. Raymond Lefevre was a composer popular in his native France and in Japan. He was born Nov. 20, 1929 in Calais, France. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and played jazz piano in clubs. He was in a band led by clarinetist Hubert Rostaing and he was also in Bernard Hilda's band at Club des Champs-Elysees. In 1956, he joined Barclay Records as a house producer and arranger. He worked there for his entire career. He worked with singer Dalida for several years. And he also started getting into films and TV. He scored a minor hit with The Day The Rains Came in 1958. Lefevre worked on TV shows like Musicorama and Palmares Des Chansons. Soul Coaxing was written and originally performed by singer songwriter Michael Polnareff. Lefevre was one of several bandleaders to record an instrumental of the song. Lefevre's recording became a hit in England and then Kapp Records released it on their Four Corners of the World label. It reached #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. And the record has always been an Easy Listening favourite. Radio Caroline kept the record alive for years by using it as its theme. You can get it in this Ace Records various artists comp. The hit single changed nothing for Lefevre. He returned to film and TV composing. He became a big favourite in Japan and he toured there with a live orchestra. Raymond Lefevre died on June 27, 2008 at age 78. Here's a video for Soul Coaxing (Ame Caline) by Raymond Lefevre and his Orchestra.

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