Tonight! (comedy, with Ernie Kovacs)

     (NBC Late Night, 1956 - 1957)

     [Ernie Kovacs was brought in on Monday and Tuesday nights
      only, to relieve overworked Steve Allen who was hosting 
      three nights (Wed - Fri), and who also had his own show
      Sunday nights at the time...] 


Theme 1: "Oriental Blues"

   [as per entry in "Rags & Ragtime--a Musical History" --
    ML 3561, R33J29, this piece is based upon "Rialto Ripples"
    co-written by the teenage George Gershwin with Walter
    Donaldson.
    
    Comparison of the melodies verifies that indeed, the
    "A" themes of both pieces are nearly identical (only the
    bridge and overall tempo was changed to protect the guilty.)
    
    Rialto Ripples strolls along at a leisurely tempo, but
    "Oriental Blues" is more of a ragtime romp, with added
    comedic sound effects during the bridge;

    Although  the erstwhile "composer" of the piece is listed
    as Jack Newlon who also promoted and published it, credit 
    for arranging "Oriental Blues" is given to Billy James.
    
    Jack Newlon was also the original music publisher.]

     Adapters/Arrangers: Richard Jackson ("Jack") Newlon (ASCAP), and
                         arranged by Billy James (ASCAP)

     Original Publisher: Jack Newlon Pub. Co. (ASCAP)
                            of Glenside, PA

     Later Publishers: Damian Music Publishing Co. (ASCAP), and
                       Mokell Music (ASCAP)

     1997 Publishers: Damian Music Publishing Co. (ASCAP), and
                      Mokell Music (ASCAP)

     Copyright Date:
     Renewal   Date:

     Recordings:
          78rpm single: Decca 29183
                        Tony De Simone Trio

          45rpm single: Epic 9059
                        Tony De Simone

          also recorded by Jan August


Theme 2: "Tonight"

     Composers: music by Leroy Alvin Holmes (ASCAP) and
                lyric by Ernie Kovacs (ASCAP)
               [professional name of Ernest Edward Kovacs]

     1978 Publisher: [listed without publisher in the 1978
                      ASCAP Index of Performed Compositions]

     1997 Publisher: [listed without publisher in the 1997
                      ASCAP ACE Repertoire database]
     
     Copyright Date:
     Renewal   Date:

     Recordings:


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