Loring Buzzell
{{short description|American music publisher and record label executive}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{overly detailed|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Loring Buzzell
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Loring Bruce Buzzell
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|10|03}}
| birth_place = Long Beach, New York, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1959|10|20|1927|10|03}}
| death_place = New York City, U.S.
| resting_place = Mount Ararat Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York
| education = Colby College (BA)
| occupation = Music publisher, music executive
| years_active = 1948–1959
| known_for = {{flatlist|
}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Lu Ann Simms|1954|1959}}
| partner =
| children = 2
| mother =
| father =
| relatives = {{unbulleted list|
Edward Buzzell (uncle)|
Harold Hecht (brother-in-law)}}
| family =
}}
Loring Bruce Buzzell (October 3, 1927 – October 20, 1959) was an American music publisher and record label executive. Together with film producer Harold Hecht and actor Burt Lancaster, he formed a series of music publishing imprints in the middle and late 1950s. His music publishing companies, Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music, Calyork Music, Leigh Music and Colby Music, were responsible for copyrighting, publishing and promoting the soundtracks and theme songs from such notable films as Marty, Trapeze, The Kentuckian, Sweet Smell of Success, Separate Tables, Cry Tough, Take a Giant Step and The Unforgiven. Buzzell's companies also published "May You Always", the recordings of which by The McGuire Sisters for Coral Records and Joan Regan for His Master's Voice, became the top-selling records and the second-best-selling sheet music in the United States and the United Kingdom for 1959.{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date= November 24, 1958 |page=42}}{{cite magazine |title=Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |date=January 26, 1959 |page=40}}{{cite magazine |title=Best Selling Sheet Music in US |magazine=Billboard |date=March 16, 1959 |page=44}}{{Cite book|last=Shapiro|first=Nat|url=https://archive.org/details/popularmusic01nats|title=Popular music : an annotated index of American popular songs|date=1964|publisher=New York, N.Y. : Adrian Press|via=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-8103-0845-9}} Calyork Records and Maine Records were two independent record labels operated by Buzzell in partnership with Hecht and Lancaster.
Prior to his association with Hecht and Lancaster, Buzzell was General Professional Manager of several Howard Spencer Richmond music publishing imprints, including Hollis Music, Ludlow Music, Folkways Music Publishers, Dartmouth Music and Cromwell Music. While working for Richmond, Buzzell published and promoted such hits as "Early Autumn", written by Woody Herman, Ralph Burns and Johnny Mercer and recorded by Jo Stafford and Paul Weston for Columbia Records, Georgie Auld for Coral Records and Ted Heath and Lita Roza for London Records; "Longing for You", written by Władysław Daniłowski and Bernard Jansen and recorded by Les Baxter for Capitol Records, Teresa Brewer for London Records, George Cates for Coral Records, Larry Clinton for Broadway Records, Vic Damone for Mercury Records, Sammy Kaye for Columbia Records, Russ Morgan for Decca Records and Tommy Tucker for M-G-M Records; "The Thing", written by Charles Randolph Grean and recorded by Phil Harris for RCA-Victor Records; and "A Guy Is a Guy", written by Oscar Brand and recorded by Doris Day for Columbia Records, Ella Fitzgerald for Decca Records and Peggy Taylor for Mercury Records.
Earlier in his career, Buzzell was a contact man for Jack Mills and Irving Mills' music publishing company, Mills Music, and a field man for the performance rights organization the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Buzzell was married to popular singer Lu Ann Simms, whom he managed towards the end of his life.{{Cite book|last=Haller|first=Marie|url=https://archive.org/details/radiotvmirro00mac|title=Where or When|date=August 1956|publisher=TV Radio Mirror|year=1956|pages=56}}{{Cite book|last=Cohen|first=Martin|url=https://archive.org/details/radiotv00mac|title=Play Your Hunch|date=January 1959|publisher=TV Radio Mirror|year=1959}} Buzzell died prematurely at the age of 32 in October 1959 from a heart attack.
Early life
= Family =
Loring Bruce Buzzell was born on October 3, 1927, in Long Beach, New York to Samuel Jesse Buzzell (1891–1979) and Alma Virginia Wanner (1896–1974).{{Cite web|title=Marriage|url=https://search.ancestry.ca/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61406&h=7894452&tid=&pid=&queryId=e90147da30c85cff676d0ba86cf48aa4&usePUB=true&_phsrc=IFQ9&_phstart=successSource|access-date=April 24, 2021|website=Ancestry}} He was of German, Irish, French and Jewish ancestry.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/radiotvm00macf|title=Lu Ann Simm's Love Story|date=September 1954|publisher=Radio TV Mirror|year=1954}} Loring Buzzell had two siblings: an older sister Gloria Joyce Buzzell (born August 3, 1923) and a younger sister Barbara Ann Buzzell (born September 15, 1936). The Buzzell family of five lived in a Victorian house located at 607 Lafayette Boulevard in Long Beach, New York.{{Cite web|title=Alma Buzzell Census 1940|url=https://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/usa/New-York/Alma-Buzzell_c99d9|access-date=April 23, 2021|website=Ancestry|language=en}}{{Cite journal|date=1948|title=The Colby Oracle 1948|url=https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1068&context=oracle|journal=The Colby Oracle}} They had a private tennis court and lived only a few properties away from the waterfront at the north-end of their street.
Buzzell's father Samuel was an important figure in the New York music industry and entertainment community. He graduated from New York University School of Law and was principally known in his profession as a theatrical, music patent and copyright counselor-at-law, and also served as a business incorporation agent.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1927-02-26_39_9|title=Eddie Buzzell|date=February 26, 1927|publisher=Billboard|pages=10|language=English}}{{Cite news|date=July 12, 1979|title=Samuel J. Buzzell, 87, Lawyer Represented Pop Composers|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/12/archives/obituary-1-no-title.html|access-date=April 25, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite magazine |date=May 20, 1920 |title=New Incorporations |magazine=Billboard |pages=7}} Samuel helped Jack Mills and Irving Mills form their music publishing company, Jack Mills, Inc., in 1919; the company was renamed Mills Music, Inc. in 1921. Samuel was not only the Mills brothers' company attorney, he was also their partner, business manager and secretary of several of their enterprises, including Jack Mills, Inc.,{{Cite book|last=|url=https://archive.org/details/variety64-1921-11|title=With the Music Men|date=November 18, 1921|publisher=Variety|pages=6}} Mills Music, Inc.,[https://archive.org/download/variety168-1947-11/variety168-1947-11.pdf "Marriages"], Variety, November 5, 1947, p56 Mills Music Corporation,{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nxEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22sam+buzzell%22&pg=PT24|title=Mills Music Sez: Cantor McHugh Aren't Buying|date=February 24, 1945|publisher=Billboard|language=en}} their agency Mills Artists, Inc.,{{cite magazine |date=1938 |title=Radio Annual 1938 |journal=Variety Radio Annual |pages=1427}} and their British and European division Mills British, Ltd.{{cite magazine |date=January 17, 1953 |title=Mills Sets Diskery to Exploit Film Tunes, Expand Abroad |magazine=Billboard |pages=25}} Samuel was still one of the three company owners and share-holders (along with president Jack Mills and vice-president Irving Mills) when the Mills Music conglomerate was sold in early 1965, leading to his retirement.{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2igEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22samuel+buzzell%22&pg=PA6|title=U&I to Pay Off Mills' Three Shareholders|date=January 30, 1965|publisher=Billboard|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EUUEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22samuel+buzzell%22&pg=PA4|title=U&I President Heads New Mills Slate|date=March 6, 1965|publisher=Billboard|language=en}} Some of the artists that were represented by Samuel include Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Leroy Anderson, Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1936-09-26_48_39|title=The Billboard 1936-09-26: Vol 48 Iss 39|date=September 26, 1936|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|via=Internet Archive|language=English}}
Buzzell's father was also on the board of directors, as President of Long Beach Hospital, from the summer of 1940 until he resigned from the post on November 20, 1941, to focus exclusively on the music business.{{Cite web|title=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York on September 1, 1940 · Page 12|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/52678205/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=September 1940 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 1941 · Page 23|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/52798880/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=November 20, 1941 |language=en}} Buzzell's paternal uncle (Samuel's brother) was Edward Buzzell (1985–1995), a noted stage actor and entertainer who moved to Hollywood and became a film and television director.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox21unse_5|title=Music Business Shocked by Death of Buzzell|date=October 31, 1959|publisher=Cashbox|location=New York|pages=50}}
Buzzell's older sister Gloria moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1940s and, through her uncle Edward Buzzell, secured employment as an executive assistant in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's story department.{{cite magazine |date=November 15, 1947 |title=Marriages |page=67 |magazine=Billboard}} On November 1, 1947, she married talent agent and film producer Harold Hecht in Las Vegas, Nevada; they had three children. Gloria and Hecht separated on July 18, 1959[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/45786180 "Divorce Granted"] The Bee, June 29, 1961, p17] and were officially divorced on June 28, 1961.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VkIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o04EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7285%2C4102537 "People"], The Pittsburgh Press, June 29, 1961, p2 Gloria was married a second time on July 12, 1963, to Franklin M. Desser, an attorney from New York City.{{Cite web|title=The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 16, 1962 · Page 18|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/179232592/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=November 16, 1962 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California on July 8, 1963 · 27|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/458722971/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=July 8, 1963 |language=en}} She and Desser moved out of Beverly Hills, California and the couple took an apartment on the East Side in New York City.{{Cite web|title=Los Angeles Evening Citizen News from Hollywood, California on March 19, 1963 · 10|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/684647307/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=March 19, 1963 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette from Lancaster, Ohio on May 11, 1963 · 6|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/295899248/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=May 11, 1963 |language=en}}
Buzzell's younger sister Barbara remained in New York and married Eugene S. Stein in 1959.{{Cite news|last1=TIl'|first1=C_peoal In The New York|last2=lc$|date=September 26, 1959|title=Barbara Ann Buzzell Wed to Eugene Stein|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/09/26/archives/barbara-ann-buzzell-wed-to-eugene-stein.html|access-date=April 25, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|title=Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York on October 21, 1959 · Page 17|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/135723093/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 21, 1959 |language=en}} She was married a second time in 1970 to George J. Tamaro, giving birth to a son named Loring Paul Tamaro, named in memory of her brother, on March 26, 1971.{{Cite news|date=July 11, 1979|title=Samuel Jesse Buzzell Obituary|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/11/archives/obituary-2-no-title.html|access-date=April 23, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}
= Education =
Buzzell first attended Central School, and later Long Beach Junior Senior High School in Long Beach, New York, before switching to the Cheshire Academy, a college-preparatory school in Cheshire, Connecticut.{{Cite web|last=Sagona|first=Bob|title=This Is My Story|url=http://www.ilovelbny.com/Essays-BobSagona.html|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=I Love Long Beach, New York}} In 1944, he enrolled at Colby University in Waterville, Maine.{{Cite web|title=The Bangor Daily News from Bangor, Maine on October 21, 1959 · 23|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/662459917/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 21, 1959 |language=en}} "Buzz", as he was quickly nicknamed, played in Colby University's varsity football team, the White Mules, and was known for owning several Ford automobiles.{{Cite journal|date=1946|title=The Colby Oracle 1946|url=https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1070&context=oracle|journal=The Colby Oracle}} He was an officer of the Alpha Tau Omega, Gamma Alpha Chapter fraternity, a member of the International Relations Club, and on the staff of the school's White Mule magazine. He graduated with the Class of 1948 earning a bachelor's degree in history.{{Cite journal|date=1959|title=Loring Bruce Buzzell|url=https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1206&context=alumnus|journal=The Colby Alumnus|volume=49|pages=32}}
Career
= ASCAP and Mills Music (1948–1950) =
After graduating from Colby University in 1948, Buzzell landed a job as a field man for performance rights organization American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.[https://books.google.com/books?id=QgoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22hecht-lancaster-buzzell%22&pg=PA16 "Heart Attack Fells Buzzell"]. Billboard, October 26, 1959. p. 16.{{Cite web|title=The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland on October 21, 1959 · 23|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/375137520/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 21, 1959 |language=en}} In March 1949, he was hired by music publishing company Mills Music, Inc. as a contact man in their professional department.{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety173-1949-03|title=Mills, Buzzell's Sons Join Music Co. In N.Y.|date=March 16, 1949|publisher=Variety|pages=38}}{{Cite book|last=|url=https://archive.org/details/variety180-1950-11|title=Buzzell Pro Mgr. of New Richmond Firm|date=November 1, 1950|publisher=Variety|pages=43}} It is likely that his father helped him get the job, since he was an officer in the company. Buzzell worked at Mills Music for about twenty months. Some of his duties while working in the music publishing industry included finding new songs to publish and copyright, signing exclusive song-writing deals with songwriters, securing the recordings of the songs by notable musicians and record labels, and getting the songs out to the public through sheet music.
= Richmond organization (1950–1955) =
In late October 1950, Buzzell began working for music publisher Howard Spencer Richmond.{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2R0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22loring+buzzell%22&pg=PA20|title=Richmond Lets Bygones Be|date=November 4, 1950|publisher=Billboard|language=en}} The switch from Mills Music to Richmond's organization was a surprise to the press, who were well-acquainted with an ongoing lawsuit between to the two publishers over the public domain composition "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena", emphasized by the fact that Buzzell's father, Samuel Jesse Buzzell, was legally representing the Mills Music company.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox11unse_39|title=Cash Box|date=July 8, 1950|publisher=Cash Box Pub. Co.|via=William and Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center}} The lawsuit wound up dragging out until August 1954.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox15unse_45|title=Cash Box|date=August 14, 1954|publisher=Cash Box Pub. Co.|via=William and Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center}}
Richmond was well-established in the music business but had only acquired full ownership of his first music publishing company, Cromwell Music, Inc., earlier that year, in February 1950.{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OQ4EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22cromwell%22+++%22hz+roland%22&pg=PT14|magazine=Billboard|date=February 11, 1950|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en|title=Cromwell now all Richmond's|page=15}} Cromwell Music, affiliated with ASCAP, had originally been founded in June 1949 by several partners, including lyricist Carl Sigman and disk jockey Gene Rayburn.{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety175-1949-08|title=Variety (August 1949)|date=1949|publisher=New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company|via=Media History Digital Library}} By the time that Richmond hired Buzzell in October 1950, he was launching his fourth music publishing imprint, Hollis Music, Inc., affiliated with Broadcast Music, Inc. Buzzell was put to work as Professional Manager of Hollis Music, directly under Richmond who was Owner and General Professional Manager. On January 2, 1951, Al Brackman took position as the new General Professional Manager of Hollis Music.{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety180-1950-12|title=Variety (December 1950)|date=1950|publisher=New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company|via=Media History Digital Library}}
Some of the compositions published and recorded through Hollis Music with Buzzell on staff include "The Thing", written by Charles Randolph Grean and recorded by Phil Harris for RCA-Victor Records; "Don't Cry", written by Edith Piaf, with lyrics translated from French by Eddie Constantine, and recorded by Don Cherry for Decca Records; "The Roving Kind", written by Jessie Cavanaugh and Arnold Stanton and recorded by The Weavers for Decca Records and Guy Mitchell for Columbia Records; "Botch-a-Me", written by Luigi Astore and Riccardo Morbelli, with lyrics translated from Italian by Eddie Y. Stanley, and recorded by Rosemary Clooney for Columbia Records; "Charlie Is My Darling", written by Fred Royal and Wellesley Roberts, and recorded by Lisa Kirk for RCA-Victor Records and Russ Morgan for Decca Records; "Green Acres and Purple Mountains", written by Mack Wolfson and recorded by Gordon MacRae for Capitol Records; and "Until Yesterday", written by Giuseppe Fucilli and William Engvick and recorded by Tony Bennett for Columbia Records.{{Cite book|last=Library of Congress. Copyright Office.|url=https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyri345libr|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries 1950 Unpublished Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 4 Pt 5B|date=1950|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|language=English}}{{Cite book|last=Library of Congress. Copyright Office.|url=https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig345libr|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries 1950 Published Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 4 Pt 5A|date=1950|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|language=English}}{{Cite book|last=Library of Congress. Copyright Office.|url=https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyri355libr|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries 1951 Unpublished Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 5 Pt 5B|date=1951|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|language=English}}{{Cite book|last=Library of Congress. Copyright Office.|url=https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyr355libr|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries 1951 Published Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 5 Pt 5A|date=1951|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|language=English}}{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety181-1951-03|title=Variety (March 1951)|date=1951|publisher=New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company}}{{Cite book|last=Library of Congress. Copyright Office.|url=https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyri365libr|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries 1952 Published Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 6 Pt 5A|date=1952|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|language=English}}{{Cite book|last=Library of Congress. Copyright Office.|url=https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig385li|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries 1954 Published Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 8 Pt 5A|date=1954|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|language=English}}
In January 1951, only four months after joining Richmond's firm, Buzzell was appointed head of exploitation for Richmond's newly renamed imprint Ludlow Music, Inc. (formerly named Spencer Music, Inc.), as well as for Richmond's newly acquired Folkways Music Publishers, Inc.{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sh8EAAAAMBAJ&q=buzzell&pg=PA40|title=Richmond Inks Ludlow, Hollis 50G BMI Deal|date=April 7, 1951|publisher=Billboard|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox12unse_42|title=Longing For You|date=July 28, 1951|publisher=Cashbox|location=New York|pages=10}} By March 1954, Buzzell had been promoted to General Professional Manager of Ludlow Music.{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety193-1954-03|title=Variety (March 1954)|date=1954|publisher=New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company}} Some of the compositions published and recorded through Ludlow Music and Folkways Music Publishers with Buzzell on staff include "A Guy Is a Guy", written by Oscar Brand and recorded by Doris Day for Columbia Records, Ella Fitzgerald for Decca Records and Peggy Taylor for Mercury Records; "Longing for You", written by Władysław Daniłowski and Bernard Jansen and recorded by Les Baxter for Capitol Records, Teresa Brewer for London Records, George Cates for Coral Records, Larry Clinton for Broadway Records, Vic Damone for Mercury Records, Sammy Kaye for Columbia Records, Russ Morgan for Decca Records and Tommy Tucker for M-G-M Records; "So Long, It's Been Good to Know Yuh", written by Woody Guthrie and recorded by The Weavers for Decca Records; "On Top of Old Smoky", written by Pete Seeger and recorded by The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson for Decca Records and Burl Ives for Columbia Records; "Song of the Dreamer", written by Memphis Evans Curtis and recorded by Eddie Fisher for RCA-Victor Records and Johnnie Ray for Columbia Records; "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", written by John Rox and recorded by Gayla Peevey for Columbia Records; "Oh, That'll be Joyful", written by Jack McVea and Jake Porter and recorded by The Four Lads for Columba Records, Jesse Stone for Atlantic Records, Morey Amsterdam and Francey Lane for M-G-M Records and Bobby Wayne and Gene Baylos for Mercury Records; "Band of Gold", written by Jack Taylor and Bob Musel and recorded by Don Cherry for Columbia Records; "O-Sho-Be-Do-Be", written by Joe Carroll and Billy Graham and recorded by Dizzy Gillespie for Dee-Gee Records; and "My Girl", written by Charles Freed and recorded by Frank Sinatra for Columbia Records and Tommy Edwards for M-G-M Records.
In March 1951, Richmond formed another imprint, Dartmouth Music, Inc. mainly for the purpose of accommodating foreign compositions to be published in the United States. Dartmouth was eventually linked to ASCAP in July 1951 and Richmond installed Buzzell as Professional Manager of the company.{{Cite book|last=|url=https://archive.org/details/variety185-1952-03|title=Since My Love Has Gone|date=March 5, 1952|publisher=Variety|pages=57}} By March 1952, Buzzell had been promoted to General Professional Manager of Dartmouth Music.{{Cite book|last=|url=https://archive.org/details/variety191-1953-09|title=This Too Shall Pass Away|date=September 16, 1953|publisher=Variety|pages=49}} Some of the compositions published and recorded through Dartmouth Music with Buzzell on staff include "Christmas Roses", written by Joan Whitney, Alex Kramer and Hy Zaret and recorded by Jo Stafford and Frankie Lane for Columbia Records; "Swedish Rhapsody", written by Hugo Alfvén and recorded by Percy Faith for Columbia Records; "This Too Shall Pass", written by Ervin Drake and Jimmy Shirl and recorded by Doris Day for Columbia Records; "Nearer My Love to Me", written by Ervin Drake and Jimmy Shirl and recorded by Jo Stafford for Columbia Records; "I'm the King of Broken Hearts", written by Fred Tobias and Jerry Tobias and recorded by Tony Bennett for Columbia Records; and the theme song of the film I Am a Camera, "Why Do I?", written by Ralph Siegel and Carl Sigman.{{Cite book|last=Library of Congress. Copyright Office.|url=https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig395li|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries 1955 Published Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 9 Pt 5A|date=1955|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|language=English}}
By July 1952, Buzzell had been named Professional Manager of Cromwell Music, Inc.{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety187-1952-07|title=Variety (July 1952)|date=1952|publisher=New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company}} and by September 1952, he was already promoted to General Professional Manager of the same imprint.{{Cite book|last=|url=https://archive.org/details/variety187-1952-09|title=Early Autumn|date=September 3, 1952|publisher=Variety|pages=38}} Some of the compositions published and recorded through Cromwell Music with Buzzell on staff include "Early Autumn", written by Woody Herman, Ralph Burns and Johnny Mercer and recorded by Jo Stafford and Paul Weston for Columbia Records, Woody Herman for Mars Records, Georgie Auld for Coral Records and Ted Heath and Lita Roza for London Records; "I Believe", written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman and recorded by Jane Froman for Capital Records and Frankie Lane for Columbia Records; "Carolina Moon", written by Joe Burke and Benny Davis; "Honky Tonk Sweetheart", written by Carmen Lombardo and Sonny Clapp and recorded by Guy Lombardo for Decca Records; and the soundtrack to Indiscretion of an American Wife, composed by Alessandro Cicognini and released as a 10" vinyl LP by Columbia Records.{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety192-1953-10|title=Variety (October 1953)|date=1953|publisher=New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company}}
Buzzell also scooped a major signing when he inked his brother-in-law Harold Hecht's film production company, Hecht-Lancaster Productions, to a soundtrack publishing deal with Cromwell Music in December 1954.[https://archive.org/download/motionpicturedai77unse/motionpicturedai77unse.pdf "Hecht-Lancaster Expanding into Stage, Music Projects", Motion Picture Daily, January 5 1955. p. 1.]{{cite magazine |title=Pic Industry in Wholesale Climb on Indie Bandwagon |magazine=Billboard |date=November 25, 1957 |page=28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/27007641/boxoffice-january081955/21|title=YORK CRITICS 5N AS THE ON|website=Yumpu.com|access-date=July 30, 2023}} At the time, Hecht-Lancaster Productions, a subsidiary of Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster's Norma Productions, was the largest and most successful independent film production company in Hollywood."The Struggle for Survival", Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin, September 2, 1957, p. 23[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PYkfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=85kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7243%2C3029834 "What's With Hecht-Hill-Lancaster?"], The Tuscaloosa News, September 24, 1959, p. 5[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C6pWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6900%2C4336973 "Burt Lancaster Termed Enigma"], The Spokesman Review, May 27, 1961, p77 Cromwell Music published the soundtrack and theme songs to Hecht-Lancaster Productions' 1955 film Marty, which went on to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. The film's first theme song, "Hey, Marty", was written by Harry Warren and Paddy Chayefsky and was recorded by The Naturals for M-G-M Records and The Chappaqua High School Kids for Columbia Records.{{cite magazine |magazine=Billboard |date=May 21, 1955 |page=62|title=Your Move for more Good Music! (Advertisement)}}{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=June 4, 1955 |page=34}} Marty
= Managing Lu Ann Simms (1954–1959) =
In October 1955, after exactly five years of working for Richmond, Buzzell left the music publishing firms to manage his wife Simms.{{Cite book|last=|url=https://archive.org/details/variety200-1955-10|title=Buzzell Exits Richmond|date=October 26, 1955|publisher=Variety|pages=41}}{{Cite book|last=|url=https://archive.org/details/variety203-1956-07|title=Hecht-Lancaster Into Publishing Via Tieup With Loring Buzzell Co.|date=July 4, 1956|publisher=Variety|pages=48}} Buzzell had slowly begun to manage his wife's business affairs in late 1954, helping with the promotion of her Columbia Records releases.{{Cite book|last=|url=https://archive.org/details/variety197-1955-02|title=In Pittsburgh|date=February 2, 1955|publisher=Variety|pages=42}} During her maternity leave and pregnancy, from March to October 1955, he handled all of her music-related affairs, and when her doctor gave her the go-ahead to return to work, after the birth of their first daughter Cynthia, Buzzell decided to take up the position full-time.
Simms was still signed to her five-year recording contract with Columbia Records when Buzzell became her manager.{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety186-1952-05|title=Variety (May 1952)|date=1952|publisher=New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company|via=Media History Digital Library}} Once that contract expired in 1957, he negotiated for her a three-year recording contract with Jubilee Records.{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety208-1957-10|title=Variety (October 1957)|date=1957|publisher=New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company|via=Media History Digital Library}} Jubilee Records released Simms' sole LP, At Separate Tables, as well as six 45s and an EP.
= Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell companies (1956–1959) =
In the spring of 1956, Buzzell reunited with his brother-in-law, Harold Hecht, to discuss the score publishing of Hecht-Lancaster Productions' new film Trapeze. It is likely that had Buzzell still been employed by Howard S. Richmond, Hecht-Lancaster Productions' future film soundtracks would have continued to be solely published through Cromwell Music, under the existing agreement. However, Hecht and Lancaster were trying to gain more independence and enjoyed the freedom of having their own companies.
The press announced in June 1956 that Hecht, Lancaster and Buzzell had formed a new music publishing company named Leigh Music, Inc., tied to ASCAP. The company was named after Buzzell's daughter, Cynthia Leigh Buzzell, a trend well-used in the Hecht and Lancaster company structure. The partners would name several of their film production imprints after their own children: Hecht's Alma Productions, Steven Productions and Jeffrey Productions, and Lancaster's Norma Productions (after his wife), James Productions, Joanna Productions, Sheila Productions, Susan Productions and William Enterprises.[https://archive.org/details/variety205-1957-01?q=Maze+of+Intertwined+Corporations+Deposition+in+Van+Druten+Case+Reveals "Maze of Intertwined Corporations Deposition in Van Druten Case Reveals Intricacy of Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Issue of Liability"], Variety, January 23, 1957, p7 The instrumental score to Trapeze, composed by Malcolm Arnold, had already been copyrighted and published earlier that month, solely through the established Cromwell Music deal, as Leigh Music had not yet been set up and equipped to handle the proper exploitation. The recording of the score, conducted by Muir Mathieson, was the first Hecht-Lancaster Productions / Norma Productions film to have a soundtrack LP, released by Columbia Records in early June 1956.{{cite magazine |title=Columbia Best-Selling Records |magazine=Billboard |date=June 9, 1956 |page=41}} Columbia Records also issued a 45 single that same month, with the songs "Lola's Theme" and "Mike and Lola's Love Theme", taken straight from the LP.{{cite magazine |title=Review Spotlight On |magazine=Billboard |date=July 14, 1956 |page=36}} In July 1956, "Lola's Theme" was released on two more 45 singles; one from a recording by Steve Allen's orchestra for Coral Records,{{cite magazine |title=Special Release |magazine=Billboard |date=July 14, 1956 |page=32}} the other from a recording by Ralph Marterie's orchestra for Mercury Records.{{cite magazine |title=Coming Up Strong |magazine=Billboard |date=July 21, 1956|page=38}}
Leigh Music's proper debut was the co-publishing (with Cromwell Music) and copyrighting of an adaptation of the film's theme song, "Trapeze", composed by Paul Elie with lyrics by Johnny Burke, dated July 6, 1956.Calatog of Copyright Entries, Music, 1956 When the company filed the paperwork for their second publishing, on August 24, 1956, for a new version of Arnold's "Lola's Theme" with lyrics by Al Stillman, Leigh Music, Inc.'s name had been quietly changed to Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music, Inc.Calatog of Copyright Entries, Music, 1956 Leigh Music and Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music setup its office at 151 West 46th Street in New York City, where the Richmond companies were also based.
Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music remained relatively quiet for the next six months. It was not until a press release went out in March 1957 that Leigh Music's new name, Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music, was announced to the public, along with news of the creation of their second imprint, Calyork Music, Inc., to be tied with BMI.{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCAEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22loring+buzzell%22&pg=PA18|title=Buzzell Ties with Hecht & Lancaster|date=March 16, 1957|publisher=Billboard|language=en}} Two months before, Hecht-Lancaster Productions had officially been renamed Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions, welcoming screenwriter and producer James Hill as a partner; Hill was nevertheless not included in the pair's music industry ventures. The music companies setup their new offices at 729 7th Avenue in New York City, where several companies linked to Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions were also headquartered; United Artists, which was exclusively financing and distributing all Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions films, took up six floors in the building, which included their United Artists Television and United Artists Records divisions.{{Cite book|last=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety205-1957-02|title=Variety (February 1957)|date=1957|publisher=New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company|via=Media History Digital Library}} Bernard M. Kamber, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions' New York Office Executive Assistant, Director of Public Relations, and National Director of Advertising and Publicity, also had an office in the building.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/radioan00radi|title=The Radio Annual and Television Yearbook, 1958|date=1958|publisher=Radio Daily}}
Without Richmond and Cromwell Music, Buzzell took charge of nearly everything related to Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music and Calyork Music. The next order of business, in early 1957, was the copyrighting and publishing of The Bachelor Party{{'}}s score, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions' new film. The score was composed by Alex North and published by Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music. RCA-Victor Records issued a 45 single featuring "Theme from The Bachelor Party" in April 1957.[https://books.google.com/books?id=FSAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22hecht-lancaster-buzzell%22&pg=PA56 "Pop Charts"]. Billboard, April 27, 1957. p. 56.
Buzzell next took care of the music from Sweet Smell of Success, a film co-produced by Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions and Curtleigh Productions (Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh's film production company). The film fared poorly at the box office when initially released, but later became a cult classic. The film's soundtrack, however, was immediately well-received and was a landmark in the soundtrack industry; it was the first film to have two separate soundtracks, each featuring completely different music.{{cite magazine |title=2 Soundtracks for Same Flick |magazine=Billboard |date=June 17, 1957 |page=29}}{{cite magazine |title=Decca Debuts Double Feature |magazine=Billboard |date=July 1, 1957 |page=25}} All of the music from Sweet Smell of Success was published and copyrighted by Calyork Music, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions' only film soundtrack to be affiliated with BMI, and was released through a promotional tie-in with Decca Records in June 1957.{{cite magazine |title=Major Decca Focus on Pic LPs, Singles |magazine=Billboard |date=July 8, 1957 |page=20}} The first soundtrack LP featured the jazz score composed by Elmer Bernstein,{{cite magazine |title=Reviews and Ratings of New Popular Albums |magazine=Billboard |date=August 5, 1957 |page=28}} while the second soundtrack LP featured the music composed and performed by the Chico Hamilton Quintet, a band which appears in the film.{{cite magazine |title=Reviews and Ratings of New Jazz Albums |magazine=Billboard |date=August 19, 1957 |page=72}} Decca Records also issued two 45s in promotion of the LPs: the first featured the songs "The Street" and "Toots Shor's Blues", taken straight from Bernstein's soundtrack;{{cite magazine |title=Pop Records Reviews |magazine=Billboard |date=July 15, 1957 |page=90}} the second featured the song "Goodbye Baby", composed by Chico Hamilton and Fred Katz, with lyrics by William Engvick, and recorded by Mark Murphy.{{cite magazine |title=Pop Records Reviews |magazine=Billboard |date=July 22, 1957 |page=72}}
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions' next film soundtrack, Run Silent, Dun Deep, was composed by Franz Waxman and published by Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music. A tie-in theme song (not featured in the film) was composed by Kenny Jacobson and recorded by Jack Pleis and his orchestra for release by Decca Records in April 1958.{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=April 7, 1958 |page=44}} Also in 1958, Buzzell published one of Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music's most successful songs, "Separate Tables", written by Harry Warren and Harold Adamson and tied to Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions' film Separate Tables. This one did appear in the film, alongside David Raksin's score, the latter of which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture at the 31st Academy Awards ceremony on April 6, 1959. Recordings of Warren and Adamson's title song were made by Vic Damone (which became Damone's best-selling record), Victor Silvester, and Jacqueline Boyer, all three for Columbia Records,{{cite magazine |title=Music as Written |magazine=Billboard |date=October 27, 1958 |page=13}}{{Citation|title=Jacqueline Boyer – Para Ti (1959, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jacqueline-Boyer-Para-Ti/release/16669335|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2021}} Eydie Gormé for ABC-Paramount Records, Mantovani for London Records,{{cite magazine |title=British Cats Moving into Hot 100 Charts |magazine=Billboard |date=January 26, 1959 |page=6}} Lilian Terry for Compagnia Generale del Disco,{{Citation|title=Lilian Terry – Lilian Terry (1959, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Lilian-Terry-Lilian-Terry/release/8758153|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2021}} The Clebanoff Strings for Mercury Records,{{Citation|title=The Clebanoff Strings – Clebanoff Plays More Songs From Great Films (Vinyl)|date=January 1960 |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Clebanoff-Strings-Clebanoff-Plays-More-Songs-From-Great-Films/release/11745894|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2021}} Len Mercer for Discografica Editrice Tirrena,{{Citation|title=Len Mercer And His Magic Strings – Love And Romance (1967, Vinyl)|year=1967 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Len-Mercer-And-His-Magic-Strings-Love-And-Romance/release/12006008|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2021}} the Everest Concert Orchestra for Everest Records,{{Citation|title=Everest Concert Orchestra – Music Tailored To Your Taste... (1958, Vinyl)|date=January 1959 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Everest-Concert-Orchestra-Music-Tailored-To-Your-Taste/release/9054435|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2021}} Golden Guinea Strings for Pye Records,{{Citation|title=Golden Guinea Strings – Play Great Songs From Great Films (Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Golden-Guinea-Strings-Play-Great-Songs-From-Great-Films/release/3243399|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2021}} and Lu Ann Simms for Jubilee Records. Simms also titled her sole full-length album At Separate Tables.{{cite magazine |title=Music as Written |magazine=Billboard |date=October 27, 1958 |page=13}}
Another successful soundtrack album published by Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music was Cry Tough, a Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions subsidiary picture, produced through Cannon Productions and Anne Productions. The score was composed and performed by Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida and received a twelve-song LP treatment from Capitol Records in November 1959, under the title Happy Cha Cha Cha.{{cite magazine |title=Reviews and Ratings of New Albums |magazine=Billboard |date=November 30, 1959 |page=30}} Jack Marshall composed the soundtrack to two Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions' films, The Rabbit Trap and Take a Giant Step, both published through Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music. The latter had a theme song written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, which was performed by the film's star Johnny Nash for an ABC-Paramount Records 45 single.{{cite magazine |title=Review of This Weeks Singles |magazine=Billboard |date= September 7, 1959 |page=39}} Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music also published and copyrighted the film scores from Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Proprietary Limited's Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, composed by Benjamin Frankel, and Hecht-Hill Lancaster Films' The Devil's Disciple (co-produced by Kirk Duglas' Brynaprod), composed by Richard Rodney Bennett; neither soundtrack received general releases outside the film.
The final film score which Buzzell worked on prior to his death was Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions' last movie, The Unforgiven. Because the film was released six months after his passing, the publishing and copyrights were done through Hecht & Buzzell Music, which was overseen by Lu Ann Simms. The film's score was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin and given an LP treatment by United Artists Records in March 1960.{{cite magazine |title=UA Schedules 8 March Sets |magazine=Billboard |date=March 14, 1960 |page=6}} A theme song, "The Unforgiven – The Need for Love", was composed by Tiomkin with lyrics by Ned Washington and was very successful with many recordings by popular artists. It was recorded by Don Costa, Tito Rodríguez and Roy Liberto, all three for United Artists Records,{{cite magazine |title=Review of This Weeks Singles |magazine=Billboard |date=March 28, 1960 |page=57}}{{Citation|title=Tito Rodriguez Orchestra – Motion Picture Themes Cha Cha Cha (1961, Gatefold, Vinyl)|year=1961 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Tito-Rodriguez-Orchestra-Motion-Picture-Themes-Cha-Cha-Cha/release/8126759|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} The McGuire Sisters for Coral Records,{{cite magazine |title=Review of This Weeks Singles |magazine=Billboard |date=April 11, 1960 |page=44}} Clyde Otis for Mercury Records,{{cite magazine |title=Mercury Records Ad |magazine=Billboard |date=May 9, 1960 |page=9}} Ronnie Hilton and Gloria Lasso, both for His Master's Voice,{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox21unse_38|title=Cash Box|date=June 18, 1960|publisher=Cash Box Pub. Co.|via=William and Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center}}{{Citation|title=Gloria Lasso – La Joie D'aimer (1961, Vinyl)|year=1961 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Gloria-Lasso-La-Joie-Daimer/release/8895382|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} The Wally Stott Orchestra And Chorus for Pye Records,{{Citation|title=The Wally Stott Orchestra And Chorus – The Unforgiven / Mr. Lucky (1960, Vinyl)|year=1960 |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Wally-Stott-Orchestra-And-Chorus-The-Unforgiven-Mr-Lucky/release/1812709|language=en|access-date=April 23, 2021}} Ron Goodwin and His Orchestra for Parlophone Records,{{Citation|title=Ron Goodwin And His Concert Orchestra – Love Theme From Ben Hur / Theme From The Unforgiven (1960, Vinyl)|year=1960 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Ron-Goodwin-And-His-Concert-Orchestra-Love-Theme-From-Ben-Hur-Theme-From-The-Unforgiven/release/6403297|language=en|access-date=April 23, 2021}} Jackie Gleason for Capitol Records,{{Citation|title=Jackie Gleason – Today's Romantic Hits – For Lovers Only (1963, Vinyl)|year=1963 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Jackie-Gleason-Todays-Romantic-Hits-For-Lovers-Only/release/1769435|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} Earl Bostic and Leon Pops Orchestra, both for King Records,{{Citation|title=Earl Bostic – Dominique / Theme From The Unforgiven (1961, Vinyl)|year=1964 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Earl-Bostic-Dominique-Theme-From-The-Unforgiven/release/6572438|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} Franck Pourcel for Pathé,{{Citation|title=Franck Pourcel Et Son Grand Orchestre – Best Western Screen Themes (1969, Vinyl)|year=1969 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Franck-Pourcel-Et-Son-Grand-Orchestre-Best-Western-Screen-Themes/release/14432456|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} Robert Jeantal and Michel Clement, both for Philips Records,{{Citation|title=Robert Jeantal – 6e Série (1961, Vinyl)|year=1961 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Robert-Jeantal-6e-Série/release/5854173|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} François Deguelt, Max Jaffa and Norrie Paramor, both for Columbia Records,{{Citation|title=Francois Deguelt – Francois Deguelt (Vinyl)|date=April 5, 2020 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Francois-Deguelt-Francois-Deguelt/release/8586396|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}}{{Citation|title=Max Jaffa, Norrie Paramor And His Orchestra – Romantica (1960, Vinyl)|year=1960 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Max-Jaffa-Norrie-Paramor-And-His-Orchestra-Romantica/release/14712245|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} Helmut Zacharias for Polydor Records,{{Citation|title=Helmut Zacharias – Violins In Gold (1972, Vinyl)|year=1972 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Helmut-Zacharias-Violins-In-Gold/release/7612522|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} The Clebanoff Strings for Mercury Records,{{Citation|title=Clebanoff And His Orchestra – King Of Kings And 11 Other Great Movie Themes (1961, Vinyl)|year=1961 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Clebanoff-And-His-Orchestra-King-Of-Kings-And-11-Other-Great-Movie-Themes/release/12681073|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} Petula Clark for Disques Vogue,{{Citation|title=Petula Clark – La Joie D'aimer (1961, Vinyl)|date=January 1961 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Petula-Clark-La-Joie-Daimer/release/2342737|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} Frank Chacksfield for Ace of Clubs Records,{{Citation|title=Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra – Movie Hit Parade (1961, Vinyl)|year=1961 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Frank-Chacksfield-His-Orchestra-Movie-Hit-Parade/release/3752317|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} Lew Douglas for Carlton Records,{{Citation|title=Lew Douglas And His Orchestra – Themes From... (1960, Vinyl)|year=1960 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Lew-Douglas-And-His-Orchestra-Themes-From/release/6487593|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} The Medallion Strings for Medallion Records,{{Cite web|title=The Medallion Strings|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1580765-The-Medallion-Strings|access-date=April 30, 2021|website=Discogs|language=en}} Jesse Crawford for Decca Records,{{Citation|title=Jesse Crawford – The Sound Of Jesse Crawford At The Majestic Pipe Organ (1961, Vinyl)|year=1961 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Jesse-Crawford-The-Sound-Of-Jesse-Crawford-At-The-Majestic-Pipe-Organ/release/15380061|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} and Gino Mescoli for Vesuvius Records.{{Citation|title=Gino Mescoli And His Orchestra – This World We Love In (1963, Vinyl)|year=1963 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Gino-Mescoli-And-His-Orchestra-This-World-We-Love-In/release/11458228|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} Costa's version peaked to number 27 on Billboard
Buzzell originally negotiated a licensing deal with Howard S. Richmond's company Essex Music, Ltd. to handle the Hecht and Lancaster soundtracks, as well as other Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music compositions in the United Kingdom.{{cite magazine |title=England |page=50 |magazine=Cashbox |publication-date=June 18, 1960}} But by 1959, he had set up his own imprint, Colby Music, Ltd. The new company was named after Buzzell's alma mater, Colby University. After Buzzell's death, Simms renamed Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music, Inc. to Hecht & Buzzell Music, Inc., in 1960, and then again later, in 1965, to Colby Music, Inc. Calyork Music, Inc. did not change name.
Some of the non film-related compositions that Buzzell published and had recorded through Calyork Music include fifteen songs composed by jazz pianist Anthony Tamburello, most of which were recorded and released on the Everest Records LP Music Tailored To Your Taste... in January 1959,{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox20unse_15|title=Cash Box|date=January 10, 1959|publisher=Cash Box Pub. Co.|via=William and Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center}} five songs written by Steve Karmen, two of which were recorded by Karmen for the Mercury Records 45 single "Watchin' and Walkin'" / "Oh! Oh!" in November 1958,{{cite magazine |title=Review of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=November 24, 1958 |page=45}} "Just About", written by Don Marsh and Nancy Lee March and recorded by Lu Ann Simms for Jubilee Records,{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=February 22, 1960 |page=45}} "Who Can I Believe", written by Vance Packard, "Chum-Bam-Bele", written by Fred Elton and Clint Ballard Jr. and recorded by Enid Mosier for Decca Records,{{Citation|title=Enid Mosier – No Cover, No Minimum (1958, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Enid-Mosier-No-Cover-No-Minimum/release/7845366|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2021}} and "Anxiously Waiting" and "She Flipped Me", written by Lou Bartel and recorded by The Flipteens for Calyork Records – Hecht, Lancaster and Buzzell's own independent record label.[https://www.discogs.com/The-Flipteens-Anxiously-Waiting-She-Flipped-Me/release/9364580 "The Flipteens 7""]. Discogs. Calyork Records was briefly operated by the team as a way to shop releases hoping to get picked up for repress by major record labels. The records were manufactured in-house by United Artists Records, located in the same building.{{Citation|title=The Flipteens – Anxiously Waiting / She Flipped Me (Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Flipteens-Anxiously-Waiting-She-Flipped-Me/release/9364580|language=en|access-date=April 25, 2021}}
The most notable non film-related compositions that Buzzell published and had recorded through Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music was "May You Always", in the fall of 1958, composed by Dick Charles with lyrics by Larry Markes. It was first recorded by The McGuire Sisters, who were close friends of Buzzell and Simms,[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PLleAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t2QNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2637%2C1937237 "New York Church Crowded for Lu Ann Simms Wedding"]. Reading Eagle, July 25, 1954. p. 2. for Coral Records, and Joan Regan for His Master's Voice.{{Citation|title=Joan Regan – May You Always (1959, Vinyl)|date=March 1959 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Joan-Regan-May-You-Always/release/1525611|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} The McGuire Sisters' version peaked to number 11 on Billboard
Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music also had a fruitful collaboration with songwriters Kenny Jacobson and Rhoda Roberts, from whom they published and copyrighted over thirty songs. Some of these included "Just for Two" and "Somebody Loses, Somebody Wins", both recorded by Jaye P. Morgan for M-G-M Records,{{Citation|title=Jaye P. Morgan – Slow And Easy (1959, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jaye-P-Morgan-Slow-And-Easy/release/4530668|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2021}}{{cite magazine |title=Review of This Weeks Singles |magazine=Billboard |date=July 20, 1959 |page=31}} "Run, Don't Walk", "The Mooch" and "Bye Um Bye", all three recorded by Lu Ann Simms for Columbia Records and Jubilee Records, "Baby, Je Vous Aime", "Crazy Dreamer", "That's All That Matters" and "The Wonder of It All", all four recorded by Bobby Miller for Jubilee Records and Apollo Records,{{Citation|title=Bob Miller – Baby, Je Vous Aime / Crazy Dreamer (1958, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Bob-Miller-Baby-Je-Vous-Aime-Crazy-Dreamer/release/4404670|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2021}}{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=February 8, 1960 |page=43}} "Midnight Blue" and "This Could Be the Night", both recorded by Herb Corey for Top Rank Records,{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=October 26, 1959 |page=46}} "Easy Does It", recorded by Johnny Mathis for Columbia Records,{{Citation|title=Johnny Mathis – Johnny (1963, Santa Maria Press, Vinyl)|date=July 15, 1963 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Johnny-Mathis-Johnny/release/3133417|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2021}} "I'll Be Waitin'", recorded by Kenny Rankin for Decca Records,{{Citation|title=Kenny Rankin – Saturday After The Game / I'll Be Waitin' (1957, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Kenny-Rankin-Saturday-After-The-Game-Ill-Be-Waitin-/release/17203504|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2021}} "Didja Mean Whatcha Said?", recorded by Steve Karmen for Mercury Records,{{Citation|title=Steve Karmen – How Soon / Didja Mean Whatcha Said? (1957, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Steve-Karmen-How-Soon-Didja-Mean-Whatcha-Said/release/4525725|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2021}} "Made for Each Other", recorded by Don Rondo for Jubilee Records,{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=December 30, 1957 |page=38}} "Lovable", recorded by Jill Corey for Columbia Records,{{cite magazine |title=Review Spotlight On |magazine=Billboard |date=April 15, 1958 |page=40}} "Have Another", recorded by Lou Monte for RCA-Victor Records,{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of This Weeks Singles |magazine=Billboard |date=June 29, 1959 |page=45}} "Bye Um Bye" recorded by Margaret Imlau for Decca Records,{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of This Weeks Singles |magazine=Billboard |date=October 26, 1959 |page=43}} "This Could be the Night", recorded by The Arena Twins for Kapp Records,{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=January 25, 1960 |page=41}} and "Cafe of Blue Mirrors" and "Ragamuffin's Holiday", both recorded by Ken Colby for Maine Records – another of Hecht, Lancaster and Buzzell's independent record labels.{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=April 6, 1959}}{{pn|date=May 2023}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox20unse_28|title=Cash Box|date=April 11, 1959|publisher=Cash Box Pub. Co.|via=William and Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center}} Maine Records, sometimes credited as Maine Record Company, was named after the State of Maine, where Buzzell attended university.{{Cite magazine|title=50 More Join Label Parade|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vh4EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22maine+records%22&pg=RA1-PA30|magazine=Billboard|date=May 4, 1959|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}} Records released by Maine Records were manufactured and distributed by Jubilee Records.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox19unse_4|title=Jubilee's 10th Anniversary Party|date=October 26, 1957|publisher=Cashbox|location=New York|pages=19}}{{Citation|title=Ken Colby With The Ragamuffins – Ragamuffin's Holiday / Cafe of Blue Mirrors (1959, Vinyl)|date=March 1959 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Ken-Colby-With-The-Ragamuffins-Ragamuffins-Holiday-Cafe-of-Blue-Mirrors/release/14276629|language=en|access-date=April 24, 2021}}
Other notable songs that Buzzell published through his company include "The Way I Am", written by Gloria Shayne and recorded by Tommy Sands for Capitol Records,{{cite magazine |title=Reviews of This Weeks Singles" |magazine=Billboard |date=August 24, 1959 |page=43}} four songs co-written by Lu Ann Simms and Jay P. Morgan: "I Care", "If Something's Gonna Happen Let It Happen", "Love Has Gone" and "Somewhere There's a Rainbow", half a dozen songs written by Fred Elton, including "Smile for the People", recorded by Lillian Briggs for Coral Records,{{cite magazine |title=Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=April 27, 1959 |page=41}} and "Good Time Charlie", recorded by The Ja Da Quartte for Warner Bros. Records,{{cite magazine |title=Review of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |date=February 16, 1959 |page=55}} "Green Silk Pajamas", written by Joe Marsala and Guy Wood and "Motherless Child", written by Jerry Fielding.
Personal life
= Marriage to Lu Ann Simms =
Buzzell first met Lu Ann Simms (née Lucille Ann Ciminelli on July 11, 1932) in late 1952, after being introduced by a mutual friend in the hallway of a production studio. About six months earlier, on April 21, 1952, Simms, a department store music counter sales girl from Rochester, New York, had won a singing contest on Arthur Godfrey's radio and television program Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts.{{Cite book|last=Warren|first=Jill|url=https://archive.org/details/radiotvmirror00mac|title=What's New From Coast To Coast|date=January 1956|publisher=TV Radio Mirror|year=1956|pages=21}}{{Cite web|title=Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona on October 5, 1952 · Page 45|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/116958829/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 5, 1952 |language=en}} She was quickly signed to a seven-year contract with Columbia Broadcasting System for television, radio and their record label division Columbia Records.{{Cite web|title=Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California on October 27, 1955 · 2|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/296424644/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 27, 1955 |language=en}} Buzzell and Simms met just when Columbia Records was releasing her first single in September 1952, featuring the songs "When It's Just About September" and "Puppy Love", and she began appearing as a regular on Godfrey's radio and television programs on CBS every week.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox13unse_49|title=Cash Box|date=September 13, 1952|publisher=Cash Box Pub. Co.|via=William and Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center}}
The two of them originally exchanged casual pleasantries but it was not until the winter of 1953 that an interest of attraction sparked. Simms mentioned wanting to see Broadway's new play Kismet at the Ziegfeld Theatre and Buzzell showed up a few days later with a pair of tickets.{{Cite web|title=Kismet – Broadway Musical – Original {{!}} IBDB|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/kismet-2421|access-date=April 24, 2021|website=www.ibdb.com}} The couple became engaged on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1954, and were hoping for a simple, quiet wedding at St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in New York City. The following day, April 19, 1954, after Simms had appeared on her weekday morning show, Arthur Godfrey Time, she and Buzzell drove out to Coney Island to have their Monday afternoon lunch – hot dogs at Nathan's Famous. They then spent the rest of the evening together driving around the country. Meanwhile, the news of their engagement was revealed to the public by Godfrey on his Monday night program, Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a coast-to-coast program broadcast on both radio and television. Buzzell and Simms were bombarded with phone calls, telegrams and letters from fans congratulating them, and by April 20, 1954, every newspaper in the country was carrying the news.[https://books.google.com/books?id=TR8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22lu+ann+simms%22+++%22buzzell%22&pg=PA20 "Music as Written"]. Billboard, May 1, 1954. p. 20.
The wedding took place on July 24, 1954, from 11 to 11:15 A.M., at St. Raphael's Church in New York City with Franciscan Father Reverend Robert Perrella performing the ceremony.{{Cite web|title=The Post-Standard from Syracuse, New York on July 22, 1954 · Page 4|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/24317129/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=July 22, 1954 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio on July 25, 1954 · Page 2|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/150275111/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=July 25, 1954 |language=en}} Although Buzzell was Jewish, the wedding ceremony was held in Catholic faith in order to please the Italian-American Ciminelli family.{{Cite web|title=Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas on July 20, 1954 · 26|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/637531735/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=July 20, 1954 |language=en}} 1,500 friends and relatives overfilled the church, with such notable guests as Merv Griffin, The McGuire Sisters and Frank Parker.{{Cite web|title=Fort Lauderdale News from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 25, 1954 · Page 6|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/230262673/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=July 25, 1954 |language=en}} Griffin later claimed in interviews that he was best-man at the couple's wedding, but he was in fact one of the four ushers; the best man was Buzzell's childhood friend Alan Peppe, while Griffin ushered with Buzzell's other friend Frank Rohr and Simms' brothers Donald and John Ciminelli. The maid of honor was Buzzell's sister Barbara Ann. Buzzell and Simms' wedding was highly publicized, with newspaper, radio and television coverage spanning roughly three weeks, from the week prior to the week following. The event was so anticipated by fans, who gathered to fill the street, that a police detail was called to keep the crowds back from the church and allow the married couple's limousine to drive away after he ceremony. The wedding was professionally photographed in 3-D color pictures by Norman Shaver and Glenn Conrad of the Shaver Photography Studio.{{Cite web|title=Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan on August 14, 1954 · Page 8|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/206424974/|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=August 14, 1954 |language=en}} The newlyweds delayed their honeymoon to Hawaii until September 1954 in order to accommodate Simms' appearances on Godfrey's program.{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://archive.org/details/tvguide-chicago-1954-08-07|title=Godfrey Snaps Back|date=August 1954|publisher=TV Guide}}
= Children =
Buzzell and Simms had two children: Cynthia "Cindy" Leigh Buzzell (born September 11, 1955) and Lauren Beth Buzzell (born January 14, 1960).{{Cite book|last=|url=https://archive.org/details/variety200-1955-09|title=Births|date=September 14, 1955|publisher=Variety|pages=71}}
When Simms announced the expectancy of her first child in January 1955, the news was immediately picked up by newspapers, radio stations and television broadcasts from coast to coast.{{Cite web|title=21 Jan 1955, 5 – Pottsville Republican at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/450239460/?terms=%22loring%20buzzell%22&match=1|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}} She went on maternity leave from the Godfrey show in March 1955, planning to return by the end of the year. In September 1955, when Cynthia was born at the Doctors Hospital in New York City, pictures and news of the parents and baby were again circulated everywhere.{{Cite web|title=The Post-Crescent from Appleton, Wisconsin on September 14, 1955 · 9|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/396127018/|access-date=April 24, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=September 14, 1955 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=12 Sep 1955, 355 – Daily News at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/454300239/?terms=%22loring%20buzzell%22&match=1|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}} Merv Griffin was appointed Cynthia's godfather. In the late 1970s, Cynthia married Geoffrey Charles Kielas.{{Cite news|date=January 7, 1985|title=Lauren Beth Buzzell death notice|pages=47|work=The Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36831230/lauren-beth-buzzell-death-notice/|access-date=April 24, 2021}}
Lauren was also born at the Doctors Hospital in New York City, but three months after Buzzell's death.{{Cite web|title=The Times-Tribune from Scranton, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1960 · 2|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/534689435/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=January 15, 1960 |language=en}} Her birth was also covered by the media from coast to coast.{{Cite web|title=The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts on January 15, 1960 · 3|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/428776897/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=January 15, 1960 |language=en}} Lauren died at 24 years, on January 6, 1985. The funeral services were held on January 8, 1985, at the Westwood Village Mortuary Chapel in Westwood, Los Angeles, California. Lauren was cremated and her ashes are held in a columbarium at Westwood Memorial Park; Simms' ashes were later rested in the same plot.
= Friendship with Merv Griffin =
In the summer of 1954, Buzzell became acquainted with singer and actor Merv Griffin. Griffin had been living in California for several years but decided to spend the summer of 1954 in New York City. He landed a job as the host of a television show titled Summer Holiday for CBS-TV; a summer replacement for Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen and Jo Stafford's The Jo Stafford Show. Griffin needed a place to stay and wound up moving in with Buzzell as his new roommate. The two had a lot in common and became instant friends, and Buzzell introduced Griffin to all of New York City's popular musicians and music executives. Griffin also co-wrote the song "Hot-Cha-Cha" with Sydney Shaw, and had it published via Dartmouth Music, where Buzzell was General Manager. Griffin recorded the song and it was released as a single by Columbia Records in early 1955.
Buzzell was already engaged to Lu Ann Simms at the time he met Griffin, with a wedding date set for July 24, 1954. Griffin later claimed in interviews that he was best man at their wedding, but was in fact one of the four ushers. After the wedding (roughly two months following his arrival in the city), Griffin moved into a different apartment in the same building so that Simms could move in with Buzzell; he remained life-long friends with the couple. When the couple had their first child, Cynthia Leigh Buzzell, born September 11, 1955, Griffin was named her godfather. Griffin later recorded the song "You're the Prettiest Thing" (written by Sydney Shaw and Jane Douglas White) in 1958, which was published by Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music, and was released as a single by Decca Records.
= Death =
Buzzell had been complaining of chest pains but assumed that they were due to a stomach ulcer, for which he had been hospitalized two years prior.{{Cite web|title=Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York on October 20, 1959 · Page 22|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/114808245/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 20, 1959 |language=en}} He awoke just before dawn on the morning of October 20, 1959, in severe pain, whereupon Simms called his physician. Buzzell died in his Manhattan apartment from a myocardial infarction at 5 A.M. that day, only two weeks after his 32nd birthday.{{Cite web|title=The Herald-News from Passaic, New Jersey on October 20, 1959 · 1|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/525857227/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 20, 1959 |language=en}} Newspapers erroneously reported that he was 37 years old in that day's news, but later obituaries carried his correct age (32).{{Cite web|title=The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts on October 20, 1959 · 46|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/433718477/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 20, 1959 |language=en}}
The funeral services were held on October 22, 1959, at the Universal Funeral Chapel in New York City.{{Cite web|title=Cumberland Evening Times from Cumberland, Maryland on October 21, 1959 · Page 1|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/4204822/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 21, 1959 |language=en}} Although he was married in a Catholic ceremony, Buzzell was interred in his family plot at the Jewish Mount Ararat Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York. Simms continued looking after Buzzell's music publishing companies after his death.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox21unse_38|title=Simms to Top Rank|date=June 18, 1960|publisher=Cashbox|location=New York|pages=48}} Calyork Music, Inc. and Colby Music, Ltd. remained intact but Simms renamed Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music, Inc. to Hecht & Buzzell Music, Inc., and later to Colby Music, Inc.
Buzzell was survived by his mother, Alma Virginia Wanner, who died at 78 years on November 27, 1974, and his father, Samuel Jesse Buzzell, who died at 87 years on July 9, 1979. His second daughter, Lauren Beth Buzzell, died at 24 years, a week before her 25th birthday, on January 6, 1985. His widow, Lu Ann Simms, remarried on October 15, 1961, to Casper Stolt, a liquor salesman from Rochester, New York, and later died at 71 years on September 21, 2003.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SiYxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HAEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4252%2C3673150 "Singer Lu Ann Simms Planning to Remarry"]. Toledo Blade, October 6, 1961. p. 5.{{Cite web|title=Daily News from New York, New York on October 7, 1961 · 63|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/459609547/|access-date=April 24, 2021|website=Newspapers.com|date=October 7, 1961 |language=en}} His older sister, Gloria Joyce Buzzell Hecht Desser, died at 82 years on December 12, 2004, while his younger sister, Barbara Ann Buzzell Stein Tamaro, died at 82 years on May 16, 2019.{{Cite web|title=Better Branches — Gloria Joyce Buzzell Hecht Desser was my Mom and...|url=https://betterbranches.tumblr.com/post/69935290382/gloria-joyce-buzzell-hecht-desser-was-my-mom-and/amp|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=betterbranches.tumblr.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Norma Productions}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buzzell, Loring}}
Category:20th-century American businesspeople
Category:American chief executives
Category:American company founders
Category:American music industry executives
Category:American music publishers (people)
Category:American people of European-Jewish descent
Category:American people of French descent
Category:American people of German descent
Category:American people of Irish descent
Category:Businesspeople from New York City
Category:Norma Productions people