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The music for this CD was recorded and edited digitally on 48 tracks from a Ray Conniff concert on December 11, 1991 in the Tokyo Kosei Nenkin Hall in Tokyo, Japan, which was part of a 30-day concert tour of Japan. It was recorded simultaneously with the videotaping of the concert done by NHK Japanese Satellite Television Network which aired the show on February 3, 1992. I have been primarily known as as a recording artist for the better part of the 36 years that I have worked as an arranger, conductor, trombonist and composer, but I find that performing live concerts in front of an audience results in a much more exciting and inspiring final result musically than recording in a studio in front of 20 or 30 microphones with no audience. The reason for this is that my singers, musicians and I "play" off the audience response and the audience in turn "plays" off the performers on stage. The result by the end of a properly programmed concert is a combined build-up of enthusiasm that becomes very exciting to both the performers and the audience! This was especially true at the recording of this particular concert in Tokyo. All of us on stage really enjoyed performing the music in this concert. We sincerely hope you will enjoy it as well. Happy listening Ray Conniff |
PRODUCED BY RAY CONNIFF FOR SONY MUSIC INTERNATIONAL, A&R DEVELOPMENT, NY, NY Music Arranged and Conducted by: RAY CONNIFF Special thanks go to EARL COLLIER, supervisor of the sound for the entire concert, as well as to all the singers and musicians. Thanks also to vocal contractor DAVE THERIAULT and choreographer ERIN THERIAULT and my dear friend TAI OHNISHI of Sony Music Communications without whose help this entire project would not have been possible. This compact disc is dedicated to the memory of my Father-in-law Waldemar Schmidheiny who was my biggest fan. |
 Ray's parents on their wedding day, June 25, 1910 |
1916 Nov. 6 Ray was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts | |
| 1925 Father taught him how to play the trombone | ||
| 1933 Played trombone, arranged and composed music for the Van Rounseville and Attleboro High School orchestras. First composition, "Holland Winds." | ||
| 1938 Played trombone, arranged and composed music and recorded with the Bunny Berigan Orchestra. | ||
| 1939 Performed the same services for Bob Crosby Orchestra. | ||
| 1940 Performed the same services for Artie Shaw Orchestra | ||
| 1943 Performed the same services for Casa Loma and Harry James Orchestras. |
 Ray at 14 years old |
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| 1949 "Freelance" trombone, arranging and recording in Los Angeles | ||
| 1954 "Freelance" trombone, arranging and recording in New York City, during which time Ray arranged and conducted the music on recordings for leading Columbia Records "Hit Singles" artists such as: Eileen Rodgers' "Miracle of Love," Frankie Laine's "Moonlight Gambler," Johnnie Ray's "Just Walkin' in the Rain," Guy Mitchell's "Singin' the Blues," Marty Robbins' "White Sport Coat" and Johnny Mathis' "Wonderful Wonderful," "It's Not For Me To Say" and "Chances Are." | ||
 Trombone solo with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, 1940 |
Ray then arranged, conducted and recorded 88 albums for Columbia/CBS/Sony Records under his own name with his own 18 piece orchestra and 8 voice chorus. Many of these are now on compact disc, and more will be forthcoming. | |
| RECORD ALBUMS RECORDED BY RAY ON COLUMBIA/CBS/SONY RECORDS | ||
| 1956 'S WONDERFUL CL-925 Ray's first album with his own 18 piece orchestra and 8 voice wordless chorus. |
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| 1957 DANCE THE BOP CL-1004 | ||
| 1957 'S MARVELOUS * CL-1074 CS-8037 Ray's first album recorded in stereo. First gold album. |
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| 1958 'S AWFUL NICE CS-8001 |
 Hollywood Bowl rehearsal, 1962 |
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| 1958 CONCERT IN RHYTHM * CS-8022 Ray's first use of strings. |
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| 1958 BROADWAY IN RHYTHM CS-8064 | ||
| 1958 HOLLYWOOD IN RHYTHM CS-8117 | ||
| 1959 IT'S THE TALK OF THE TOWN CS-8143 The first time Ray used a 25 voice chorus singing the words. |
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| 1959 CONNIFF MEETS BUTTERFIELD CS-8155 Ray features his buddy Billy Butterfield from the Crosby, Shaw days on trumpet |
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1959 CHRISTMAS WITH CONNIFF * CS-8185 The first of three great Christmas albums. |
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| 1959 CONCERT IN RHYTHM, VOL. II CS-8212 | ||
| 1960 YOUNG AT HEART CS-8281 | ||
| 1960 SAY IT WITH MUSIC CS-8282 | ||
| 1960 MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS * CS-8374 One of Ray's biggest gold album sellers. |
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| 1961 SOMEBODY LOVES ME CS-8442 | ||
| 1961 SO MUCH IN LOVE * CS-8520 | ||
| 1961 'S CONTINENTAL CS-8576 | ||
| 1962 RHAPSODY IN RHYTHM CS-8678 | ||
| 1962 WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS * CS-8692 Ray's second Christmas album certified gold and platinum. |
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| 1962 THE HAPPY BEAT CS-8749 | ||
| 1963 JUST KIDDIN' AROUND CS-8822 Ray's second album featuring Billy Butterfield on trumpet. |
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| 1963 YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO YOUNG CS-8918 | ||
| 1963 SPEAK TO ME OF LOVE CS-8950 | ||
| 1964 FRIENDLY PERSUASION CS-9010 | ||
| 1964 INVISIBLE TEARS CS-9064 |
 30th St. Studio, New York City, 1957 |
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| 1964 LOVE AFFAIR CS-9152 | ||
| 1965 MARY POPPINS CS-9166 | ||
| 1965 THE RAY CONNIFF CHRISTMAS ALBUM (Here We Come a Caroling) CS-9206 | ||
| 1965 HAPPINESS IS CS-9261 | ||
| 1966 WORLD OF HITS CS-9300 | ||
| 1966 SOMEWHERE MY LOVE * CS-9319 This album went gold and platinum and also received a Grammy award for the best performance by a chorus. |
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1966 EN ESPAÑOL CLS-5177 Mexico CS-9408 USA | |
| 1967 THIS IS MY SONG CS-9476 | ||
| 1967 HAWAIIAN ALBUM CS-9547 | ||
| 1967 IT MUST BE HIM * CS-9595 | ||
| 1968 HONEY * CS-9661 | ||
| 1968 TURN AROUND LOOK AT ME CS-9712 | ||
| 1968 I LOVE HOW YOU LOVE ME CS-9777 | ||
| 1968 RAY CONNIFF'S GREATEST HITS CS-9839 A compilation album with a new stereo recording os 'S Wonderful. |
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| 1969 RAY CONNIFF LIVE EUROPA TOURNEE 1969 S-66219 Released in Europe only. Ray's first live tour album. |
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| 1969 JEAN CS-9920 | ||
| 1969 RAY CONNIFF LIVE AT SAHARA TAHOE G-30122 Ray's second live tour album |
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| 1970 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER CS-1022 |
 Ray with manager Cliff Broughton on the occasion of the 1962 West Coast tour |
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| 1970 WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN C-30410 | ||
| 1970 LOVE STORY C-30498 | ||
| 1971 GREAT CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL HITS C-30755 | ||
| 1971 I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING KC-31220 | ||
| 1972 LOVE THEME FROM THE GODFATHER KC-31473 | ||
| 1972 ALONE AGAIN NATURALLY KC-31629 | ||
| 1972 I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW KC-32090 | ||
| 1973 CHARLOTTE'S WEB C-32413 A children's album. |
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 Ray and Vera skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland, 1969 |
1973 RAY CONNIFF IN BRITAIN CBS-65885 Released in the United Kingdom only. |
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| 1973 YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE KC-32376 | ||
| 1973 HARMONY KC-32553 | ||
| 1973 THE WAY WE WERE KC-32802 | ||
| 1974 RAY CONNIFF PLAYS CARPENTERS SOPM-129 Released in Japan and Europe only. |
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| 1974 THE HAPPY SOUND OF RAY CONNIFF (In the Mood) KC-33139 This album was also released in Quadraphonic sound. | ||
| 1974 RAY CONNIFF IN MOSCOW CTE-PEO 33-C-60 05499-500 Recorded in Moscow with Russian singers, musicians and studio facilities. Ray was the very first Western "Pop" artist given this honor. |
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| 1975 LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN KC-33332 |
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| 1975 ANOTHER SOMEBODY DONE SOMEBODY WRONG KC-33564 | ||
| 1975 LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER KC-33884 | ||
| 1975 RAY CONNIFF PLAYS THE BEATLES SOP-119 Released in Japan only |
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| 1975 I WRITE THE SONGS KC-34040 | ||
| 1975 RAY CONNIFF LIVE IN JAPAN SOPZ-90-91 Ray's first live Japan tour album released in Japan only |
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 Ray, his daughter Tamara and the M.C. of the 1978 Viña del Mar, Chile Song Festival, where Ray performed and was presented with the coveted "Goviota" award. |
1975 THE BEST OF RAY CONNIFF RDS-7021 RDES-2613-26 A great seven record, 84 song Readers Digest compilation. |
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| 1976 RAY CONNIFF PRESENTS VOLS. I AND II 2P6410 2P6411 Features the music of: The Carpenters, The Beatles, Burt Bacharach, Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, and Henry Mancini |
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| 1976 SEND IN THE CLOWNS KC-34170 | ||
| 1976 THEME FROM SWAT AND OTHER TV THEMES PC-34312 | ||
| 1976 AFTER THE LOVIN' PC-34477 | ||
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1977 EXITOS LATINOS CYS-1502 |
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| 1978 RAY CONNIFF PLAYS THE BEE GEES JC-35659 |
 Fred Cooper, Ray Conniff, Zeke Zarchy |
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| 1979 I WILL SURVIVE JC-36255 | ||
| 1980 THE PERFECT 10 CLASSICS JC-36749 This is one of Ray's favorite albums. |
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| 1980 EXCLUSIVAMENTE LATINO * DIL 10312 (Latin) | ||
| 1981 SIEMPRE LATINO DIL-10323 (Latin) Features Ray's daughter Tamara singing "Di Papa." |
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| 1981 ENTRE AMIGOS 138505 (Latin) | ||
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1982 THE NASHVILLE CONNECTION FC-38072 This album features various country artists. |
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| 1982 MUSIK FÜR MILLIONEN A German album released in Europe only. |
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| 1982 AMOR AMOR DIL-10328 (Latin) | ||
| 1983 FANTASTICO * DIL-10342 (Latin) | ||
| 1984 SUPERSONICO DIL-10363 (Latin) | ||
| 1985 CAMPEONES DIL-10380 (Latin) | ||
| 1986 SAY YOU SAY ME 40384 | ||
| 1986 30TH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM * 10464 (Latin) |
 Stephanie Bennett |
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| 1987 ALWAYS IN MY HEART * C-44152 | ||
| 1988 RAY CONNIFF INTERPRETA MANUEL ALEJANDRO CLS-462881
DIL-80163 Featuring the music of a leading Spanish composer. |
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| 1990 RAY CONNIFF PLAYS BROADWAY CBS-467241 | ||
| 1992 'S ALWAYS CONNIFF A two record set recorded during a live concert in Tokyo, Japan, December 11, 1991 |
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* INDICATES GOLD ALBUM This list does not include singles nor all of the many Ray Conniff compilation albums that have been released in the United States and throughout the entire world. |
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