Ellis' work encompassed all areas of music, from records to film, commercials, and television. In the early 1960s, Ellis had a contract to produce his own easy listening record albums with RCA Victor, MGM, and Columbia, the most popular probably being Ellis in Wonderland. His television credits include theme music for NBC News At Sunrise with Connie Chung and the background and incidental music for the first season of the original Spider-Man cartoons.
NBC News Today
Ellis also composed two extended themes for The Today Show, the first in 1971. It was used as the Friday closing theme (and eventually the show's full-time theme) until the end of the decade.[1] However, in Herald Square Music v. Living Music, the District Court of the Southern District of New York "found the instrumental arrangement and harmonization of defendant's melody to be substantially similar to that of 'Day by Day,'" a Stephen Schwartz song from the musical Godspell.[2] As a result, Ellis composed a second Today Show theme based on the trademark NBC chimes. That theme was the NBC show's signature from 1978 to 1985 and has appeared irregularly on the morning program ever since.[1]
Work with Filmation
Using the name of his wife "Yvette Blais" as a pseudonym, Ellis and Norm Prescott, who used the pseudonym "Jeff Michael" after his sons Jeff and Michael) composed nearly all of the background music for cartoon studio Filmation from 1968 to 1982, according to DVD booklets for Ark II, Space Academy, and Jason of Star Command.[3] Before adopting the pseudonym Yvette Blais, Ellis used "Spencer Raymond" on 1968's Fantastic Voyage, "George Blais" on some of Filmation's early '70s output and its feature films, and the name of his teenaged son Marc Ellis on 1969's The Hardy Boys. (Marc would later become a composer, assisting his father without credit on Filmation scores receiving credit for co-composing the theme to the 1979 Flash Gordon cartoon.) On 1978's Fabulous Funnies, Ellis was credited as "Mark Jeffrey" (opposite Lou Scheimer under the pseudonym "David Jeffrey", which he occasionally used in the 1970s). However, Ray Ellis was credited with his real name for background music to The Archie Show and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, as well as Star Trek: The Animated Series in the early 1970s.
Ellis died of complications from melanoma on October 27, 2008, at an assisted-living facility in Encino, California. He was survived by sons Marc and Jeffrey.[1][4]
^ abcdeBarnes, Mike (October 31, 2008). "Composer Ray Ellis dies at 85". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
^Herald Square Music v. Living Music, 205 U.S.P.Q. 1241, No. 77 Civ. 0008 (S.D.N.Y. December 4, 1978).
^Mangels, Andy; booklets for Space Sentinels/The Freedom Force, Hero High, The Ghost Busters, Ark II, Space Academy, Jason of Star Command, and The Secrets of Isis
^Thurber, Jon (November 5, 2008). "Ray Ellis Dies At 85". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
Ray Ellis Interview NAMM Oral History Library (1997)
December 28, 2022
ellis, football, players, same, name, american, football, australian, footballer, july, 1923, october, 2008, american, record, producer, arranger, conductor, saxophonist, responsible, orchestration, billie, holiday, lady, satin, 1958, production, discographyre. For the football players of the same name see Ray Ellis American football and Ray Ellis Australian footballer Ray Ellis July 28 1923 October 27 2008 was an American record producer arranger conductor and saxophonist He was responsible for the orchestration in Billie Holiday s Lady in Satin 1958 1 Ray EllisProduction discographyReleasesStudio albums Billie Holiday s Lady in Satin 1958 References Contents 1 Biography 1 1 NBC News Today 1 2 Work with Filmation 1 3 Game show music 1 4 Death 2 Selected discography 2 1 As arranger or conductor 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditRaymond Spencer Ellis was born in Philadelphia 1 He arranged many hit records in the 1950s and 1960s Included are classics such as A Certain Smile and Wild is the Wind by Johnny Mathis Broken Hearted Melody by Sarah Vaughan and Standing on the Corner by the Four Lads In 1970 he produced Emmylou Harris debut LP Gliding Bird Ellis work encompassed all areas of music from records to film commercials and television In the early 1960s Ellis had a contract to produce his own easy listening record albums with RCA Victor MGM and Columbia the most popular probably being Ellis in Wonderland His television credits include theme music for NBC News At Sunrise with Connie Chung and the background and incidental music for the first season of the original Spider Man cartoons NBC News Today Edit Ellis also composed two extended themes for The Today Show the first in 1971 It was used as the Friday closing theme and eventually the show s full time theme until the end of the decade 1 However in Herald Square Music v Living Music the District Court of the Southern District of New York found the instrumental arrangement and harmonization of defendant s melody to be substantially similar to that of Day by Day a Stephen Schwartz song from the musical Godspell 2 As a result Ellis composed a second Today Show theme based on the trademark NBC chimes That theme was the NBC show s signature from 1978 to 1985 and has appeared irregularly on the morning program ever since 1 Work with Filmation Edit Using the name of his wife Yvette Blais as a pseudonym Ellis and Norm Prescott who used the pseudonym Jeff Michael after his sons Jeff and Michael composed nearly all of the background music for cartoon studio Filmation from 1968 to 1982 according to DVD booklets for Ark II Space Academy and Jason of Star Command 3 Before adopting the pseudonym Yvette Blais Ellis used Spencer Raymond on 1968 s Fantastic Voyage George Blais on some of Filmation s early 70s output and its feature films and the name of his teenaged son Marc Ellis on 1969 s The Hardy Boys Marc would later become a composer assisting his father without credit on Filmation scores receiving credit for co composing the theme to the 1979 Flash Gordon cartoon On 1978 s Fabulous Funnies Ellis was credited as Mark Jeffrey opposite Lou Scheimer under the pseudonym David Jeffrey which he occasionally used in the 1970s However Ray Ellis was credited with his real name for background music to The Archie Show and Sabrina the Teenage Witch as well as Star Trek The Animated Series in the early 1970s Game show music Edit Ellis who resided in Los Angeles also composed the music for the 1980s US edition of Sale of the Century theme along with Hot Streak Scrabble Scattergories and Time Machine with his son Marc Ellis that includes the Jack Grimsley s score from 1980 and the famed Reg Grundy Productions fanfare at the end of each broadcast he also composed the theme from the short lived US version of Catch Phrase Death Edit Ellis died of complications from melanoma on October 27 2008 at an assisted living facility in Encino California He was survived by sons Marc and Jeffrey 1 4 Selected discography EditAs arranger or conductor Edit Mood Jazz Joe Castro 1956 Lady in Satin Billie Holiday 1958 Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song Chris Connor 1961 The Third Album Barbra Streisand 1963 Soul Lena Horne 1966 There Is a Time Liza Minnelli 1966 And I Love Him Esther Phillips 1965 Seven Letters Ben E King 1965 Herbie Mann Plays The Roar of the Greasepaint The Smell of the Crowd Herbie Mann 1965 5 A Lazy Afternoon Harold Land 1995 The Christmas Album Johnny Mathis 2002 References Edit a b c d e Barnes Mike October 31 2008 Composer Ray Ellis dies at 85 The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved August 18 2018 Herald Square Music v Living Music 205 U S P Q 1241 No 77 Civ 0008 S D N Y December 4 1978 Mangels Andy booklets for Space Sentinels The Freedom Force Hero High The Ghost Busters Ark II Space Academy Jason of Star Command and The Secrets of Isis Thurber Jon November 5 2008 Ray Ellis Dies At 85 Los Angeles Times Retrieved November 9 2008 Ray Ellis Credits AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 18 August 2018 External links EditRay Ellis at IMDb Ray Ellis Interview NAMM Oral History Library 1997 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ray Ellis amp oldid 1125948026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
