Ken Nordine (April 13, 1920 – February 16, 2019) was an American voice-over and recording artist, best known for his series of word jazz albums.[2] His deep, resonant voice has also been featured in many commercial advertisements and movie trailers. One critic wrote that "you may not know Ken Nordine by name or face, but you'll almost certainly recognize his voice."[3]
The son of Theresia (Danielson) and Nore S. Nordine, a contractor, Ken Nordine was born in Cherokee, Iowa. His parents were Swedish.[4] The family later moved to Chicago, where he attended Lane Technical College Prep High School and the University of Chicago. During the 1940s, he was heard on The World's Great Novels and other radio programs broadcast from Chicago. One of which, Honore de Balzac's short story "Une passion dans le désert", was recorded for the 1955 album Passion in the Desert.[5] In 1955, he provided the voiceover on Billy Vaughn's version of "Shifting Whispering Sands", which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. He subsequently attracted wider attention when he recorded the aural vignettes on Word Jazz (Dot, 1957). Love Words, Son of Word Jazz (Dot, 1958) and his other albums in this vein feature Nordine's narration over cool jazz by the Fred Katz Group featuring Chico Hamilton recording under an alias.[6][7]
Nordine began performing and recording such albums at the peak of the beat era and was associated with the poetry-and-jazz movement. However, it has been observed that some of Nordine's writings "are more akin to Franz Kafka or Edgar Allan Poe" than to the beats.[8] Many of his word jazz tracks feature critiques of societal norms.[9] Some are lightweight and humorous, while others reveal dark, paranoid undercurrents and bizarre, dream-like scenarios. Nordine's DVD, The Eye Is Never Filled was released in 2007.[9]
Nordine hosted the weekly Word Jazz program on WBEZ, also carried on other stations, from the 1970s for over forty years.[10]
In 1988, Nordine appeared on two selections from the album Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films: the opening track, "Hi Diddle Dee Dee (An Actor's Life For Me)" from Pinocchio, and the second to last track "Desolation Theme", also from Pinocchio".
In 1990, Nordine was approached by Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead to be the anchor for their New Year's Eve radio broadcast from Oakland, California.[12] For the broadcast he recorded some improvisations with Garcia, drummer Mickey Hart and Egyptian musician Hamza El-Din.[12] This subsequently led to an album Devout Catalyst, released on the Grateful Dead's own label in 1991[12] and Upper Limbo in 1993[13] and an appearance with the band live at a show at Rosemont, Illinois, in March 1993.[14]
In 2007, he was a performer at the High Line Festival in New York, curated by David Bowie.[15]
With his wife, the former Beryl Vaughn, an actress whom he married in 1945, he had three sons. Beryl died April 26, 2016.[16] Ken Nordine died February 16, 2019.[17]
Films and television
Nordine appeared as the narrator, credited as "The Stranger", in Philip Kaufman's 1967 underground comedy Fearless Frank.[18][19] He was also Linda Blair's vocal coach for her role in the 1973 film The Exorcist.[8] Subsequently, Nordine filed a lawsuit, saying he was not properly compensated for his work, eventually settling in 1979.[11]
Nordine narrated several films for classroom use, made by Coronet Instructional Films in the 1950s. In at least one, Developing Your Character, he appears on screen.[20]
On television, Nordine did a series of readings on a show titled Faces in the Window on WNBQ, and Fred Astaire danced to Nordine's "My Baby" on a TV special.[21] Nordine's past radio series were Now Nordine and Word Jazz.[22] He also provided the opening narration for the music video of "Can You Feel It" by the Jacksons.
Nordine worked with author Maurice Sendak on Sesame Street, providing the narration for the animated segments "Bumble Ardy"[23] and "Seven Monsters".[24]
Nordine provided the voiceover for NewTek's Video Toaster demo reels, such as the 1991 "Revolution".[25]
^Kogan, Rick. "Ken Nordine, Chicago creator of 'word jazz' who had a voice that 'could give you the chills,' dies at 98". chicagotribune.com.
^Kogan, Rick. "Ken Nordine, Chicago creator of 'word jazz' who had a voice that 'could give you chills' dies at 98". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
^Love, Bret. Review of A Transparent Mask at AllMusic
^"Mother and Son – an exhibit at the Swedish American Museum Center – Edgewater Historical Society". www.edgewaterhistory.org.
^ ab"Album Chart of 1955". Thejukebox Rebel. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
^Unterberger, Richie. Biography of Ken Nordine at AllMusic
^ ab. Chicago Jazz Magazine. May 13, 2011. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
^ abc"Ken Nordine (The voice of Chicago) visits Flashpoint academy to plan student workshop". Columbia College. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
^"Ken Nordine, 'Word Jazz' Creator, Dies at 98". KQED. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
^ ab"Ken Nordine dies at 98;radio announced and influential 'word jazz' artist". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
^ abcd"The New Word Jazz of Ken Nordine". LA Times. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
^ ab"Grateful Dead Hour No. 272". Dead.net. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
^"Dead of the Day:March 11 1993". gratefuldeadoftheday.com. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
^"High Line Festival – David Bowie". New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
^"Beryl Nordine obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
^Kogan, Rick (February 16, 2019). "Ken Nordine, 98, dies. Chicago creator of word jazz, with a 'voice that could give you the chills'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
Ken Nordine (December 21, 2005). "How Do We Know When Now Is?". NPR.
January 07, 2023
nordine, april, 1920, february, 2019, american, voice, over, recording, artist, best, known, series, word, jazz, albums, deep, resonant, voice, also, been, featured, many, commercial, advertisements, movie, trailers, critic, wrote, that, know, name, face, almo. Ken Nordine April 13 1920 February 16 2019 was an American voice over and recording artist best known for his series of word jazz albums 2 His deep resonant voice has also been featured in many commercial advertisements and movie trailers One critic wrote that you may not know Ken Nordine by name or face but you ll almost certainly recognize his voice 3 Ken NordineBorn 1920 04 13 April 13 1920Cherokee Iowa U S DiedFebruary 16 2019 2019 02 16 aged 98 Chicago Illinois U S 1 Occupation s Voice over radio host musicianYears active1948 2019SpouseBeryl VaughnChildren3 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Films and television 3 Selected discography 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksLife and career EditThe son of Theresia Danielson and Nore S Nordine a contractor Ken Nordine was born in Cherokee Iowa His parents were Swedish 4 The family later moved to Chicago where he attended Lane Technical College Prep High School and the University of Chicago During the 1940s he was heard on The World s Great Novels and other radio programs broadcast from Chicago One of which Honore de Balzac s short story Une passion dans le desert was recorded for the 1955 album Passion in the Desert 5 In 1955 he provided the voiceover on Billy Vaughn s version of Shifting Whispering Sands which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 He subsequently attracted wider attention when he recorded the aural vignettes on Word Jazz Dot 1957 Love Words Son of Word Jazz Dot 1958 and his other albums in this vein feature Nordine s narration over cool jazz by the Fred Katz Group featuring Chico Hamilton recording under an alias 6 7 Nordine began performing and recording such albums at the peak of the beat era and was associated with the poetry and jazz movement However it has been observed that some of Nordine s writings are more akin to Franz Kafka or Edgar Allan Poe than to the beats 8 Many of his word jazz tracks feature critiques of societal norms 9 Some are lightweight and humorous while others reveal dark paranoid undercurrents and bizarre dream like scenarios Nordine s DVD The Eye Is Never Filled was released in 2007 9 Nordine hosted the weekly Word Jazz program on WBEZ also carried on other stations from the 1970s for over forty years 10 Nordine was in demand as a voiceover artist on commercials for several companies including the First Chicago Bank Levi s Gallo Wine and Magnavox amongst others 11 In 1988 Nordine appeared on two selections from the album Stay Awake Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films the opening track Hi Diddle Dee Dee An Actor s Life For Me from Pinocchio and the second to last track Desolation Theme also from Pinocchio In 1990 Nordine was approached by Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead to be the anchor for their New Year s Eve radio broadcast from Oakland California 12 For the broadcast he recorded some improvisations with Garcia drummer Mickey Hart and Egyptian musician Hamza El Din 12 This subsequently led to an album Devout Catalyst released on the Grateful Dead s own label in 1991 12 and Upper Limbo in 1993 13 and an appearance with the band live at a show at Rosemont Illinois in March 1993 14 In 2007 he was a performer at the High Line Festival in New York curated by David Bowie 15 With his wife the former Beryl Vaughn an actress whom he married in 1945 he had three sons Beryl died April 26 2016 16 Ken Nordine died February 16 2019 17 Films and television EditNordine appeared as the narrator credited as The Stranger in Philip Kaufman s 1967 underground comedy Fearless Frank 18 19 He was also Linda Blair s vocal coach for her role in the 1973 film The Exorcist 8 Subsequently Nordine filed a lawsuit saying he was not properly compensated for his work eventually settling in 1979 11 Nordine narrated several films for classroom use made by Coronet Instructional Films in the 1950s In at least one Developing Your Character he appears on screen 20 On television Nordine did a series of readings on a show titled Faces in the Window on WNBQ and Fred Astaire danced to Nordine s My Baby on a TV special 21 Nordine s past radio series were Now Nordine and Word Jazz 22 He also provided the opening narration for the music video of Can You Feel It by the Jacksons Nordine worked with author Maurice Sendak on Sesame Street providing the narration for the animated segments Bumble Ardy 23 and Seven Monsters 24 Nordine provided the voiceover for NewTek s Video Toaster demo reels such as the 1991 Revolution 25 Selected discography EditMain article Ken Nordine discography 1955 Passion in the Desert 5 FM 1957 Word Jazz 26 Dot 1958 Son of Word Jazz 26 Dot 1958 Love Words 27 Dot 1959 Next 27 Dot 1960 Word Jazz Vol II 27 Dot 1967 Colors 26 Philips 1967 Ken Nordine Does Robert Shure Twink 27 Philips 1979 Stare with Your Ears 27 Snail 1984 Triple Talk 27 Snail 1986 Grandson of Word Jazz 27 Snail 1991 Devout Catalyst 12 Grateful Dead 1993 Upper Limbo 13 Grateful Dead 2001 Transparent Mask 28 Asphodel 2007 The Eye Is Never Filled DVD Snail 9 References Edit Kogan Rick Ken Nordine Chicago creator of word jazz who had a voice that could give you the chills dies at 98 chicagotribune com Kogan Rick Ken Nordine Chicago creator of word jazz who had a voice that could give you chills dies at 98 Chicago Tribune Retrieved 21 April 2019 Love Bret Review of A Transparent Mask at AllMusic Mother and Son an exhibit at the Swedish American Museum Center Edgewater Historical Society www edgewaterhistory org a b Album Chart of 1955 Thejukebox Rebel Retrieved October 6 2018 Unterberger Richie Biography of Ken Nordine at AllMusic Weber M The CODA Interview with Fred Katz CODA The Jazz Magazine Issue 176 1980 a b Ken Nordine the Word Jazz Impresario Chicago Jazz Magazine May 13 2011 Archived from the original on June 13 2015 Retrieved August 28 2014 a b c Ken Nordine The voice of Chicago visits Flashpoint academy to plan student workshop Columbia College Retrieved February 16 2019 Ken Nordine Word Jazz Creator Dies at 98 KQED Retrieved February 16 2019 a b Ken Nordine dies at 98 radio announced and influential word jazz artist Chicago Sun Times Retrieved 17 February 2019 a b c d The New Word Jazz of Ken Nordine LA Times Retrieved October 6 2018 a b Grateful Dead Hour No 272 Dead net Retrieved October 6 2018 Dead of the Day March 11 1993 gratefuldeadoftheday com Retrieved October 6 2018 High Line Festival David Bowie New York Times Retrieved October 6 2018 Beryl Nordine obituary Legacy com Retrieved February 16 2019 Kogan Rick February 16 2019 Ken Nordine 98 dies Chicago creator of word jazz with a voice that could give you the chills Chicago Tribune Retrieved February 16 2019 Fearless Frank 1967 at IMDb Borrelli Christopher October 19 2012 Word Jazz pioneer Ken Nordine gets closer look Chicago Tribune Retrieved August 28 2014 Smith Ken 1999 Mental Hygiene Classroom Films 1945 1970 New York Blast Books p 137 ISBN 0 922233 21 7 Ken Nordine s My Baby tuxjunction net Archived from the original MP3 on April 23 2015 Retrieved August 28 2014 Will Ken Nordine Ever Grow Up Chicago Reader Retrieved September 27 2018 RIP Maurice Sendak DJFood com Retrieved September 28 2018 Sesame Street was brought to you today Cartoonresearch com Retrieved September 27 2018 Revolution NEWTEK Video Toaster Demo Reel 1991 on YouTube a b c From the Crates Ken Nordine Treblezine com 7 May 2013 Retrieved September 27 2018 a b c d e f g Jazz Profiles Ken Nordine Jazzprofiles blogspot com 16 April 2013 Retrieved September 27 2018 Ken Nordine Word Jazz A Transparent Mask Jazz Times Retrieved October 6 2018 Bibliography EditMarciniak Vwadek P Politics Humor and the Counterculture Laughter in the Age of Decay New York etc 2008 Stephenson Gregory Speaking Volumes Ken Nordine s Word Jazz Heidelberg Ober Limbo Verlag 2019 External links EditKen Nordine s Word Jazz site and podcast at the Wayback Machine archived February 21 2015 Ken Nordine at Last fm Ken Nordine s channel on YouTube official Ken Nordine December 21 2005 How Do We Know When Now Is NPR Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ken Nordine amp oldid 1112600594, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
