Gail Laughton
{{Infobox musical artist
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| name = Gail Laughton
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|06|21}}
| birth_place = Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| death_date = {{death date and age|1985|09|9|1921|06|21}}
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| genre = Jazz
| occupation =
| instrument = Harp
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Gail Laughton, born Denzil Gail Laughton (1921–1985), was an American jazz harpist. He worked in Hollywood, playing on many film and cartoon soundtracks.
Early life
Laughton was born in Oklahoma. His parents were both involved with the harp: his mother as a teacher and his father, Charles T. Laughton, as a harp builder. As a young child, he played with his family's orchestra, touring Cuba and Panama.{{cite journal|title=Gail Laughton, Jazz Harpist|journal=The American Harp Journal|volume= 7|issue= 3|year=1980|pages=38–39}} He joined the Oklahoma City Symphony in 1937, hired through the WPA at the minimum age of 15.{{cite web
| title = Ralph Rose 1937-1938
|url=http://www.okcphilharmonic.org/ralph-rose-1937-1938
| website = Oklahoma City Philharmonic
| accessdate = 28 October 2015}}
Career
Laughton appeared regularly on the Al Pearce Show, a weekly radio broadcast, beginning in 1942.{{cite web|title=1/8/1942 show script|url=http://www.otrr.org/FILES/Scripts_pdf/Al_Pearce_Show/Al%20Pearce%2042-01-08.pdf|website=Old Time Radio Researchers Group|accessdate=19 November 2017}}{{cite web|title=1/29/1942 show script|url=http://www.otrr.org/FILES/Scripts_pdf/Al_Pearce_Show/Al%20Pearce%2042-01-29.pdf|website=Old Time Radio Researchers Group|accessdate=19 November 2017}} Laugton performs as Cary Grant's hands and arms during the harp-playing scene in The Bishop's Wife.{{cite journal|title=Gail Laughton, Jazz Harpist|journal=The American Harp Journal|volume= 7|issue= 3|year=1980|pages=38–39}}
Discography
=Albums, as performer=
- A Streetcar Named Desire soundtrack (Capitol Records, 1951)Performing Arts Annual, 1989, p. 7
- Gandharva - Beaver & Krause (Warner Brothers Records, 1971)The Jazz Discography CD-ROM 3.3, Tom Lord, Lord Music Reference, 2002
=Solo album=
- Harps of the Ancient Temples (Rapture, 1969) - "The shimmering, ethereal quality of the harp sings out under [his] loving care."{{cite book|last1=Birosik|first1=Patti Jean|title=The New Age Music Guide|date=1989|publisher=Collier Books|location=New York|isbn=0020416407|page=107}} The track 'Pompeii 76 A.D.' from this LP was used in the movie Blade Runner, mislabeled as "Harp of the Ancient Temples" and/or "Bicycle Riders".
=Singles=
- Mel Tormé with Hal Mooney & His Orchestra, 11/16/1947 session: "I Cover the Waterfront" bw "County Fair" (Musicraft 5009), "A Foggy Day" (Musicraft 589) "Makin' Whoopee" (Musicraft 534), "Little White Lies" (Musicraft 558), "Do It Again" (Musicraft 534), "Night and Day" (Musicraft 538)The Jazz Discography CD-ROM 3.3
- Ben Light, "When Day is Done"/"Cocktails for Two" (Tempo TR-608){{cite web|last1=Hanscom|first1=Michael|title=Vinylicious|url=http://www.michaelhanscom.com/vinylicious/2010/01/28/tempo-tr-608-ben-light-when-day-is-donecocktails-for-two/|accessdate=19 November 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Jan07/Harps_temples_LR811CD.htm Review of Harps of the Ancient Temples with some background]
- [http://www.laurelrecord.com/catalog6.html Current availability of Harps of the Ancient Temples]
- [http://harpinlafunbutton.blogspot.com/p/zhivago-eight.html Brief biography]
- [http://www.discogs.com/artist/305376-Gail-Laughton Discogs page]
- [http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/cds/musician.cfm?MID=1032 Film Score Monthly list of soundtracks]
- {{IMDb name|3990328|Gale Laughton}}
- {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0002287254}}
- [http://musicalassumptions.blogspot.com/2011/03/cary-grant-playing-harp-in-bishops-wife.html Gail's arms are shown when Cary Grant plays harp in The Bishop's Wife]
{{Authority control}}
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Category:American jazz harpists
Category:20th-century American male musicians
Category:Jazz musicians from Oklahoma
Category:American male jazz musicians
{{Oklahoma-stub}}
{{US-jazz-musician-stub}}