Ray Conniff

[Blondie]

Ray Conniff known for the record albums he made for Columbia of easy listening tunes from the 1950s to the 1990s, died Saturday (October 12) in Los Angeles after falling and hitting his head. He was 85.

After playing trombone with a number of big bands and arranging many hits in the 50s for artists like Johnny Mathis and Guy Mitchell, he started his own orchestra and chorus in 1956. Conniff's biggest hit was "Somewhere My Love (Lara's Theme fromDr. Zhivago)", a top ten hit in 1966.

Conniff had more than 100 recordings and produced 25 Top 40 albums for Columbia Records, ten of which went gold and two platinum.

 

[honeywolf7]

I grew up listening to his music (thanks to my dad.)

 

[minniecarousel]

I'll betcha that my Pop's old Ray Conniff albums are in my Sister's garage. We listened to a lot of him as kids. (Montovani was his other big favorite.)

 

[honeywolf7]

My dad liked Mantovani as well...and Johnny Mathis, Chet Atkins, and Perry Como.

 

[luvmydogs]

One of my favorite Christmas CD's is "Christmas With Conniff." My parents used to play the album when I was little, and I especially remember it playing while my mom baked Christmas cookies. So sorry about his passing. His songs gave me many happy family memories.

 

[Beauty]

 

[Beauty]

 

[JerseyJanice]

Rest in peace, Mr. Conniff.

 

[Gina]

I would refuse to have Christmas without my Ray Conniff cd's... My dad also got me hooked, and I still have the original album's of his. Mr. Conniff's music made (and still makes) a lot of people very happy.

-gina-

 

[goofygirl]

To be honest, I never heard of him!


But now I am interested in getting to know his music.

 

[JohnMouse]

I have heard the "S'Wonderful" sound of the Ray Coniff Singers all my life, especially around Christmas time.

Ray is now up in heaven making music with Percy Faith, Mantovani, Henry Mancini and some of the other greats of easy listening.

So long, Ray.

 

[nativetxn]

A great loss

 

[Grog]

I was sorry to hear that

 

[Poohbear123]

Yes, I too, would listen to his Music, thanks to my Mom.

 

[CRB#33]

Ray Connif came to my high school and I rehearsed with a few other girls with him on a special part to a song he wrote, that our choir was performing. He then directed our choir during the performance. It was pretty exciting.

He had come to our school several times before that and our director was just in love with him. We performed mostly Conniff arrangements and we were pretty much known as the Conniff Concert Choir Singers around our local area.

 

[accomp]

I've enjoyed listening to many of the Ray Conniff Singers' recordings.