Ralph Flanagan

Ralph Flanagan (born Ralph Elias Flenniken, (April 7, 1914 in Lorain, Ohio - December 30, 1995 in Miami, Florida) was a famed big band leader, conductor, pianist, composer, and arranger for the orchestras of Hal McIntyre, Sammy Kaye, Blue Barron, Charlie Barnet, and Alvino Rey.

He was educated at Lorain High School, where he was a member of the National Honors Society, the student senate, the school newspaper staff (Hi-Y) and the chorus.

During World War II he served in the Merchant Marine from October 1942 to 1946. By 1949 he formed a very successful orchestra which is credited with re-popularizing the Glenn Miller "sound," and which made many records, among them "Rag Mop" and "Hot Toddy." The Ralph Flanagan band was managed by Herb Hendler, an RCA A&R man who had signed Glenn Miller to his final record contract before Miller's fatal plane crash in the English Channel during World War II. It was Hendler who had encouraged Flanagan to adopt the Miller sound that led to his success. Hendler also co-wrote "Hot Toddy," which was recorded by many artists, including Chet Atkins, Rosemary Clooney, and Julie London.

The Flanagan orchestra's theme songs were "Giannina Mia" and "Singing Winds", the latter title also applying to the orchestra's singing group.

He joined the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers in 1950, and his popular-song compositions include "Hot Toddy" and "Flanagan's Boogie."

During the peak of his career, he also lived in the suburban village of Malverne, New York.

Discography

*Ralph Flanagan
*Hot Toddy
*Let's Dance with Ralph Flanagan
*Let's Dance with Ralph Flanagan, Volume 2
*Big Band Sounds of Ralph Flanagan
*A Tribute to Glenn Miller
*At the Hollywood Palladium
*Always
*Dancing in the Dark

45 rpm

Some Enchanted Evening/People Will Say We're in Love RCA 47-3174 (From Boxed Set WP268) 1949

It Might As Well Be Spring/Surrey With The Fringe On Top RCA 47-3175 (From Boxed Set WP268 1949

Oh What A Beautiful Mornin'/If I Loved You RCA 47-3176 (From Boxed Set WP268) 1949

Stars And Stripes Forever/Giannina Mia RCA 47-3762 1950

Dancing Tambourine/La Vie En Rose RCA 47-3889 1950

Nevertheless/The Red We Got is The Red We Want RCA 47-3904 1950

Baby Doll/A Rose and a Baby Ruth RCA 47-6719 1956

Blacksmith Blues/Delicado RCA 47-4706 1952

Dear Hearts and Gentle People/My Hero RCA 54-001 1949

Lullaby Of Birdland/Did I Remember RCA 47-5741 1954

Everytime I fall In Love/? RCA 47-4067 1951

Hot Toddy/Where Or When RCA 61-7362 1953

I Belong To You/? RCA 47-6023 1955

Where Or When/When We're Alone (Penthouse Serenade) RCA 47-4013 (From Boxed Set WP308) 1951

Giannina Mia/Joshua RCA 47-4014 (From Boxed Set WP308) 1951

Hot Toddy/Serenade RCA 47-5095 1952

I remember the Cornfields/? RCA 47-4008 1951

I understand/? RCA 47-4724 1952

Radar Love/? RCA 47-6525 1956

Reverie In The Rain/? RCA 47-5591 1954

Stop and Kiss Dance/? RCA 47-5361 1953

Sweetheart of Sigma Chi/? RCA 47-6141 1955

There's Nothing Like Love/? RCA 47-6224 1955

Way Back Home/? RCA 54-0012

EP's

Coral 65543 Let's Get Away From It All/Oh Look At Me Now/There I've Said It Again/Too Young

RCA EPA537 A-Flat Swing/Gypsy Violin/Smoke Gets In Your Eyes/Why

RCA EPA514 One Alone/?/?/?

Links

* [http://www.bigbandlibrary.com/ralphflanagan.html BigBandLibrary.com: Ralph Flanagan-Prime Time (December, 2005)]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1035378/bio Ralph Flanagan on IMDB.com]
* [http://music.aol.com/artist/ralph-flanagan/10559/main Ralph Flanagan on AOL Music]