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Henry Mancini: New York
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Born Enrico Nicola Mancini on April 24, in Cleveland Ohio, Henry Mancini grew up in Aliquippa Pa., close to Pittsburgh, learning to play the flute from his immigrant father at a very early age. He received formal training in flute and piano from Max Adkins, in Pittsburgh. Two of his fellow students were Billy Strayhorn (composer of "Take the A Train") and Jerry Fielding (composer of "The Wild Bunch"). Adkins introduced Henry to Benny Goodman, who inspired him to study at Juillard, in New York. During World War 2 Henry served with the 28th Air Force Band, working with Tony Martin, among others.
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Mancini was born Enrico Nicola Mancini in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the steel town of West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. His parents emigrated from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Mancini's father, Quinto, was a steelworker, who made his only child begin flute lessons at the age of eight. When Mancini was 12 years old, he began piano lessons. Quinto and Henry played flute together in the Aliquippa Italian immigrant band, "Sons of Italy". After high school, Mancini attended the renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York. In 1943, after roughly one year at Juilliard, his studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the army.
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After the war, Tex Beneke (lead sax and singer in the Miller band) hired Mancini as a pianist and arranger for the new Glenn Miller band. Here he met his wife, Ginny O'Connor, a singer for the band. For a time he worked on radio and studio sessions, playing piano, arranging, and orchestrating. In 1952 he was hired to do fill-in work on an Abbott and Costello movie for Universal-International and afterwards was immediately hired for a full time position. From 1952-1958 he worked on over 100 films, doing anything needed. He served as a copyist, arranger, conductor, composer and arranger.
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Mancini scored many TV movies, including The Thorn Birds and The Shadow Box. He wrote his share of television themes, including Mr. Lucky, NBC News Election Night Coverage, "NBC Mystery Movie,"[3] What's Happening!!,[4] Newhart, Remington Steele, Tic Tac Dough (1990 version)
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New Release: Intrada had just released a soundtrack CD for Silver Streak, a complete Mancini score that has never been available for purchase (other than the main title theme). Order direct from Intrada, and grab it fast: this is a limited edition!
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