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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