George Melachrino

George Melachrino (born George Miltiades; 1 May 1909 – 18 June 1965)[1] was a musician, composer of film music, and musical director who was English born of Greek and Italian descent. He was an accomplished player of the violin, viola, oboe, clarinet and saxophone.

George Melachrino was born in London, England.[2] As a young boy, he had a love of music. At the age of five, he began composing and by the age of fourteen he enrolled in the Trinity College of Music.[2] In 1927, he began his career by singing and playing at the Savoy Hill Studios in London.[2] For the next twelve years, he played in many different bands and orchestras. In the 1930s, Melachrino started working for bands led by Ambrose singing and playing saxophone with Carroll Gibbons at the Savoy Hotel London, and Bert Firman, and started playing on radio for the BBC.[2] By 1939, he started his own band and secured a contract at the Café de Paris.[2] He joined the Army a year later, and received training at the Corps of Military Police where he became a P.T. Instructor. Melachrino also gained experience as a military musician at the Army Broadcasting Department, as Musical Director for the recording of entertainment for overseas forces, leading the British Band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and the Orchestra Khaki.[2] After the war, in 1945, he formed the George Melachrino Orchestra, an orchestra that became synonymous with lush string arrangements.[2] From 1945 to 1947, he conducted for Richard Tauber in most of his Parlophone recordings and BBC broadcasts.

In 1956, his orchestra's track "Autumn Concerto" reached number 18 in the UK Singles Chart, and remained in the chart for nine weeks.[1]

Melachrino frequently performed on BBC and American Armed Forces Radio.

The "Starlight Roof Waltz", as performed by the George Melachrino Strings, was the signature tune of the radio programme Moeders wil is wet (1949–1974), the Dutch equivalent of Housewives' Choice.

His lead arranger during the British Band of the AEF and later with the Melachrino Strings was Bert Thompson, who also arranged "Little White Bull" and "The Young Ones".

Melachrino has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Selected filmography

Discography
TITLELABEL & NUMBERYEAR
Music for Dining (10")RCA Victor DLP-10001952
Music for Relaxation (10")RCA Victor DLP-10011952
Music for Reading (10")RCA Victor DLP-10021952
A Melachrino Concert (10")RCA Victor LPM-10031952
A Melachrino Concert (EP)RCA Victor EPB-10031952
Melachrino Magic Strings (10")His Master's Voice DLP-10141953
Soft Lights and Sweet Music (10")His Master's Voice DLP-10461953
My Lady Fair (10")His Master's Voice DLP-10901953
Midnight on Park Avenue (10")His Master's Voice DLP-11011953
Music for DiningRCA Victor LPM-10001953
Music for RelaxationRCA Victor LPM-10011953
Music for ReadingRCA Victor LPM-10021953
Music for Faith and Inner CalmRCA Victor LPM-10041954
Serenade in the NightHis Master's Voice DLP-11271954
The Music Of The Melachrino Strings (EP)RCA Victor – EPA 4911954
Music for Courage and ConfidenceRCA Victor LPM-10051954
The Melachrino Strings (EP)His Master's Voice – 7EG 80021954
Music for Courage and Confidence (EP)RCA Victor EPB-10051954
Music to Help You SleepRCA Victor LPM-10061954
Plays Medleys Show TunesRCA Victor LPM-10081954
Music for Two People AloneRCA Victor LPM-10271954
Music for DaydreamingRCA Victor LPM-10281954
Music to Work or Study ByRCA Victor LPM-10291954
Christmas In High FidelityRCA Victor LPM-10451954
Music for the Nostalgic TravelerRCA Victor LPM-10531955
Autumn Leaves (EP)RCA Victor – SPD 41955
Immortal LadiesRCA Victor LPM-11101955
Melodie In PenombraLa Voce Del Padrone – QDLP 60231955
George Melachrino At San Remo 1956 (10")Odeon URL7300EP1956
MasqueradeRCA Victor LPM-11841956
Stardust (EP)RCA Victor – EPA-5971956
Masquerade (2 X EP)RCA Victor – EPB-1184-31956
Sounds of ParisRCA Victor LPM-12611956
Melachrino on BroadwayRCA Victor LPM-13071956
I'll Walk Beside YouRCA Victor LPM-13291957
Magic In Music (EP)His Master's Voice – 7EGM 82181957
Those Beautiful StringsRCA Victor LPM-13301957
Moonlight ConcertoHis Master's Voice DLP-11971958
Fascination (EP)His Master's Voice – 7-EGS 771958
Under Western SkiesRCA Victor LSP-16761958
Strauss WaltzesRCA Victor LSP-17571958
Lisbon at TwilightRCA Victor LSP-17621958
Rendezvous In RomeRCA Victor LSP-19551959
Christmas JoyRCA Victor LSP-20441959
Music of RombergRCA Victor LSP-21061960
Music of Victor HerbertRCA Victor LSP-21291960
Music from Frank Loesser's GreenwillowRCA Victor LSP-22291960
The Magic Of Melachrino Strings (EP)His Master's Voice – 7EG 84701961
More Music for RelaxationRCA Victor LSP-22781961
Music from Bells Are RingingRCA Victor LSP-22791961
Music of KernRCA Victor LSP-22831961
More Music for DiningRCA Victor LSP-24121961
Music of RodgersRCA Victor LSP-25131962
Waltzes of BerlinRCA Victor LSP-25611962
Our Man in LondonRCA Victor LSP-26081963
All the Hits from OliverRCA Victor LSP-26601963
April in ParisRCA Victor LSP-27391963
Ballads of BerlinRCA Victor LSP-28171964
You and the Night and the MusicRCA Victor LSP-28661964
Music for RomanceRCA Victor LSP-29791965
New Sound of BroadwayRCA Victor LSP-33231966
Something to Remember You ByRCA Victor LSP-33981966
Music to Write Letters By Vol 1 (2 sides)RCA Victor PRM-2471967
Love Walked InPickwick SPC-32341971
Play the Tom Jones HitsPickwick SPC-32421971
Love StoryPickwick SPC-32631972
Velvet Voices - Velvet StringsColumbia Musical Treasury P6S5532 - 6LPSet1975
L'Orchestra D'Archi Di George MelachrinoRCA – NL 453071982
Great Film and Show Tunes (1950-1952)Living Era CDAJA 54692003
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References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 359. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 279/80. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
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