48 Facts About Paul Weston

Paul Weston was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor who worked in music and television from the 1930s to the 1970s, pioneering mood music and becoming known as "the Father of Mood Music".

Paul Weston wrote classical pieces, including "Crescent City Suite" and religious music, authoring several hymns and masses.

Paul Weston was educated at Springfield High School, then attended Dartmouth College and Columbia University.

At Dartmouth, Paul Weston formed his own band and toured with the college band.

Paul Weston joined Columbia's dance band, The Blue Lions, but was temporarily unable to perform following a rail accident, and did some arrangements while he recovered.

Paul Weston sold his first arrangements to Joe Haymes in 1934.

When Haymes requested more material, Paul Weston's music was heard by Rudy Vallee, who offered him work on his radio show.

Paul Weston met Tommy Dorsey through Haymes and in 1936 became a member of Dorsey's orchestra.

Paul Weston persuaded Dorsey to hire The Pied Pipers after hearing them in 1938, and the group toured with the bandleader.

Paul Weston became music director there, where he worked with singer Jo Stafford and developed the mood music genre.

Paul Weston worked extensively in television from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Paul Weston helped start the Grammy Awards, which were first presented in 1959.

Paul Weston was honored with a Grammy Trustees Award in 1971 and spent three years as music director of Disney on Parade.

The family moved to Pittsfield when Paul Weston was two, and he spent his formative years in the town.

Paul Weston's parents were both interested in music, and when Paul Sr taught at a private girls' school, he was allowed to bring the school's gramophone home over the Christmas holidays.

Paul Weston remembered hearing "Whispering Hope" on it as a child.

Paul Weston learned how to play the clarinet so he could travel with the college band.

Paul Weston went to graduate school at Columbia University and was active in the Blue Lions, Columbia's dance band.

In January 1934, Paul Weston was seriously injured in a train accident.

Paul Weston was able to hold on to the handle and was dragged two and one half miles before losing his grip.

Paul Weston met Tommy Dorsey through his work with Joe Haymes.

Paul Weston joined Dorsey as chief arranger in 1936, holding the position until 1940.

Paul Weston changed his name from Wetstein to Weston after his arrival in California.

Paul Weston was asked to do more work for Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, and for Betty Hutton.

Paul Weston met Johnny Mercer while working for Paramount in 1942; Mercer, who was preparing to start Capitol Records, wanted Paul Weston to write for his new company.

Stafford and Paul Weston had first met in 1938, when he was working as an arranger for Tommy Dorsey; Paul Weston was responsible for getting Stafford's group, the Pied Pipers, an audition with Dorsey for his radio show.

The recording ban was lifted for Capitol in October 1943 after an agreement was reached between the Musicians' Union and the record company; Paul Weston was then able to return to the recording studio.

Besides his work at Capitol, Paul Weston did conducting for many radio shows during this time.

Paul Weston worked with Duffy's Tavern, the radio shows of Joan Davis, and Your Hit Parade.

Paul Weston remained active in radio, with his own The Paul Weston Show, and in acting roles on Dear John with Irene Rich, Valiant Lady, and Cavalcade of America.

In 1957 Paul Weston was named musical director for NBC-TV, a position he held for five years, a founding member and the first president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and half of a recording duo that the whole country was talking about.

Paul Weston went public with his portion of the act at a Columbia Records convention, where it was an instant hit; the couple agreed to do some recordings, calling themselves Jonathan and Darlene Edwards.

George Avakian, a Columbia Records executive, chose the name of Jonathan Edwards for Paul Weston's act in honor of the Calvinist preacher of the same name.

Paul Weston was concerned he might not be able to fill an album with the performances of Jonathan Edwards, so he asked Stafford to help.

Paul Weston was one of the men named to this committee by the Chamber.

Paul Weston had a long career as a musical director for television, including The Danny Kaye Show, The Jonathan Winters Show, The Jim Nabors Show and for The Bob Newhart Show, a 1961 variety show.

Paul Weston was the conductor and arranger for his wife's CBS television show from 1954 to 1955, The Jo Stafford Show.

Paul Weston arranged Ella Fitzgerald's album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book, devoted to the music of Irving Berlin.

Paul Weston co-wrote "Shrimp Boats", published in 1951, which was popularized by Jo Stafford.

One of Paul Weston's songs made the tiny town of Hana on the island of Maui a household word.

Paul Weston found himself at the Hasegawa General Store, about which he wrote "The Hasegawa General Store", based on his experiences there, which was recorded by Arthur Godfrey, Jim Nabors, and others.

Paul Weston wrote classical and religious music: one of his two symphonic suites, Crescent City Suite, has enjoyed many performances, in the "Crescent City", New Orleans, and elsewhere.

Paul Weston was the author of many hymns and two Masses which were published by the Gregorian Institute of America.

Paul Weston founded Corinthian Records in the late 1970s, a company which started as a religious music label, but which later became the distributor for the couple's secular albums.

Paul Weston's intention was to get the masters of both his and Stafford's recordings for later reproduction on compact disk.

Paul Weston spent three years as the musical director of Disney on Parade.

Paul Weston died on September 20,1996, in Santa Monica, California, aged 84.

Paul Weston is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.