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Elliot Lawrence

Elliot Lawrence was an American jazz pianist and bandleader.

Son of the broadcaster Stan Lee Broza, Lawrence led his first dance band at age 20, but he played swing at the time its heyday was coming to a close. He recorded copiously as a bandleader for Columbia, Decca, King, Fantasy, Vik, and SESAC between 1946 and 1960. Lawrence is currently music director for the Tony awards show.

Elliot Lawrence was born Elliot Lawrence Broza on February 14, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents, Stan Lee Broza and Esther Broza were radio and television pioneers. In 1927 they created and produced the Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour, which ran on WCAU radio from 1927–1958 and concurrently on television from 1948–1958. Stan Lee Broza was also the first president of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia from 1962-1963. Stan Lee was the host of the Children’ Hour and Esther produced it. Childhood stars that appeared on the show include Eddie Fisher, Frankie Avalon, Joey Bishop, Bernadette Peters and best selling author Jacqueline Susann. The idea for The Children’s Hour was originally born by Stan Lee when a new shopping mall in Philadelphia was looking to sponsor a show on the radio. He came up with the idea to create a variety show in which talented children would sing and perform. While looking for sponsors, one of Stan Lees’ first customers was William Paley, who bought advertising time on WCAU for his fathers cigar shop. William Paley went on to become the chairman of CBS. Stan Lee Broza and Esther Broza were pioneers of broadcasting and of the variety show. Both are in the Philadelphia Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Elliot grew up in this show biz environment and began studying piano at the age of 3. His first public performance was at age 4 conducting the orchestra on the Children’ Hour stage show. At the age of six he wrote his first composition, “Falling Down Stairs” and he was stricken with polio.[4] Lawrence fought the illness for 6 months, after which he recovered. By the age of 12, Elliot had formed his first band; a 15-piece unit called The Band Busters. and had already begun doing club dates on the weekends. Elliot finished high school at age 16 and entered The University Of Pennsylvania. During his junior year his band, now named The Elliot Broza Orchestra, began playing college proms around Pennsylvania. At Penn, he majored in symphonic conducting under Harl McDonald, who offered him a position as assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra upon graduation. In 1944, after three years at Penn, Elliot graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree and received the Thornton Oakely Award, given each year to the undergraduate who has contributed most to the arts.

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Album Review

The Elliot Lawrence Big Band: Swings Cohn and Kahn

Read "Swings Cohn and Kahn" reviewed by Jack Bowers


There's far more Cohn than Kahn on these studio / live dates from the '50s by the Elliot Lawrence Big Band, but that's not a criticism, merely an observation, as both Tiny and Al were superlative big--band writer / arrangers and this generously timed release includes topnotch material from both as well as several handsome charts by Johnny Mandel. Add solos by Cohn, trombonists Eddie Bert and Urbie Green, trumpeter Nick Travis, alto Hal McKusick and the incomparable Zoot Sims ...

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Obituary

Elliot Lawrence: 1925-2021

Elliot Lawrence: 1925-2021

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Elliot Lawrence, one of the last surviving big band leaders of the late 1940s and early 1950s who employed many of the finest and most sophisticated New York jazz musicians who went went on to leadership careers in the LP era, died on July 2. He was 96. In 1960, Elliot began composing, arranging and conducting for television, film and Broadway. His shows included How to Succeed in Busness Without Really Trying, which won him a Tony. He also conducted ...

2

Interview

Interview: Elliot Lawrence

Interview: Elliot Lawrence

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

I've long loved Elliot Lawrence's music. His big band recordings of the late 1940s and 1950s had superb swing and sensitivity, especially on Gerry Mulligan arrangements. The band was tight, well rehearsed and always loaded with the best musicians in the business. After my last post on Elliot back in August, singer Marlene VerPlanck sent me a kudos email and suggested I give Elliot a call. So I did. One thing led to the next and I did an old ...

1

Video / DVD

Elliot Lawrence on the Road

Elliot Lawrence on the Road

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

What was it like to be on the road in a big band in 1950? It's difficult to say, since we only have the recollections of musicians who were there, and who knows how accurate those memories are. In the case of Elliot Lawrence, two members of his band then—Bob Karch and Howie Mann—took color home movies. As you'll see in the following eight clips, the country was still young then. TV hadn't penetrated most markets, radio dominated and bands ...

1

Video / DVD

Tiny Kahn and Elliot Lawrence

Tiny Kahn and Elliot Lawrence

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Composer-arranger Johnny Mandel told me a few years ago that Tiny Kahn was among his favorite arrangers. As Johnny put it, no one could craft a flag-waver like Kahn, with huge build, drive and swing. Johnny and Kahn go back to 1944, when both were in Henry Jerome's band. Both also arranged for Woody Herman and Elliot Lawrence in the early 1950s. Kahn also was a fabulous drummer (sticks and brushes) and cymbal stylist, as evidenced by his work behind ...

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Recording

Elliot Lawrence: Jazz Goes B'way

Elliot Lawrence: Jazz Goes B'way

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

If New York's jazz studio scene had a high point, it's probably 1956 and '57, just as the 12-inch LP became popular and just before stereo intruded with its odd sonics. During those two years, labels set high LP production quotas and producers were dispatched to line up numerous recording dates. With the pressure on, many producers took chances on artists who might not have been heard otherwise and concepts that hadn't been tried previously. They also began using Broadway ...

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