Friday, January 16, 2015

Salvatore "Tutti" Camarata

A few months back I was cleaning my house and caught myself humming the love theme, "For Now For Always" from one of my favorite movies "The Parent Trap",  music written by The Sherman Brothers.  I have a love for orchestrated music, especially soundtracks, and thought I should learn more about its' history and I stumbled upon Salvatore "Tutti" Camarata. Between the 1950's and 1970's he established, produced, conducted, and was head of Disneyland Records.



Tutti, as he was nicknamed by Jimmy Dorsey, began the roots of his music career during the big band era of the 1930's and 1940's playing the trumpet for Jimmy Dorsey.  He also had the opportunity to work on the Bing Crosby Show and was also an arranger for The Paul Whiteman band which happens to be the same band that Dave's Grandpa John Maloy used to perform in on piano and guitar.


In the 1950's, Tutti caught the eye of an executive for the Disney company and was asked to come aboard as their record label executive. He helped to produce such artists as Annette Funicello.  He is actually the responsible for helping her develop her voice as well as her trademark "echo" style of singing.  This helped push her into the spotlight not only as a Disney Mouseketeer but as a successful pop hit singer.




He was also responsible for introducing to Disney such voice actors as Sterling Holloway, who is better known as the voice of Winnie the Pooh and was integral in convincing Louis Prima to provide the voice for King Louie the Ape in The Jungle Book.

In 1960, at the slight suggestion from Walt Disney, Tutti opened his own recording studio Sunset Sound.  Aside from producing and recording all of the Disneyland records here, several bands and artists recorded here including The Beach Boys (as seen below), Paul McCartney, John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and the lists goes on.  This turned out to be a smart investment which still thrives today under the direction of his son Paul Camarata.


Over the years Tutti would continue to produce and release arrangements of some of his favorite classical orchestrated interpretations.  Below are just a few of these LP's with some amazing artwork. 








 With over eight grammy's to his name, several recordings,  and a successful production and recording company, Sunset Sound,  Salvatore "Tutti" Camarata's legacy for his love of music continues to provide inspiration.


I leave you below with another one of my favorite arrangement's of his.


Till' Next Time,

Suz