b.: April 7, 1908, in Toronto, Canada; d.: February 9, 1976, Encino, CA
Percy Faith was a pianist, arranger, conductor and composer; a piano prodigy by age 15, Faith gave a recital in Toronto's famed Massey Hall. He was also playing for the silent movie houses, but in 1926 he injured his hands in a fire, thus ending any concert career opportunities. In 1927, he began arranging, first for hotel orchestras, and then for radio extensively in the 1930's.
From 1938 to 1940, 'Music by Faith' was heard on the CBC. However, in 1940 with his budget cut, and tiring of feeling that the CBC hired kept him as their token Jewish operative , he moved to Chicago, Illinois, and later to New York City, accepting a post with the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), where he became an American citizen in 1945.
In New York, he arranged and also conducted for many radio shows including 'The Carnation Contented Hour'; 'Buddy Clark show'; 'The Coca Cola show', etc. He was recording for Decca and then RCA, but in 1950, became part of the Columbia Records A&R staff where he worked with Tony Bennett on three of the crooners' million selling records: "Because Of You", "Rags To Riches", and "Cold, Cold Heart".
In 1950, he wrote "My Heart Cries For You" (a hit for Guy Mitchell). He also became one of the leaders of the 'Pop Instrumental' movement. During 1952-53, he had several hit records including the Brazilian song "Delicado" and "The Song From The Moulin Rouge" (a Felicia Sanders vocal hit).
He also recorded his own 'Mood Music' albums and had three hits of his own with "Theme For Young Lovers" (#32 in Canada in 1960), and "Theme From 'A Summer Place'" (#4 in Canada in 1960; #1 in the USA and #2 in the UK in 1961).
During the 1950's Faith worked in Hollywood on such films as the Ruth Etting biography 'Love Me Or Leave Me' (1955) starring Doris Day and garnering Faith an Academy Award nomination. He scored several more movies in the 1960's like 'Tammy Tell Me True' (1961), 'I'd Rather Be Rich' (1964), 'The Love Goddesses' (1964), 'The Third Day' (1965), and 'The Oscar' (1966).
Singles
1950 I Cross My Finger (Columbia)
1952 Delicado (Columbia)
1953 The Song From The Moulin Rouge (Columbia)
1956 Valley Valaparaiso (Columbia)
1956 We All Need Love (Columbia)
1956 With A Little Bit Of Luck (Columbia)
1957 Till (Columbia)
1960 Theme From 'A Summer Place' (Columbia)
1960 Theme For Young Lovers (Columbia)
1974 Theme From Chinatown (Columbia)
Albums
1953 Music From Hollywood (Columbia)
1957 Viva - The Music Of Mexico (Columbia)
1959 Bouquet (Columbia)
1959 Theme From 'A Summer Place' (Columbia)
1963 Themes For Young Lovers (Columbia)
1968 For Those In Love (Columbia)
1969 Those Were The Days (Columbia)
1969 Windmills Of Your Mind (Columbia)
1970 Love Theme From 'Romeo And Juliet' (Columbia)
1970 Leaving On A Jet Plane (Columbia)
1970 Held Over! Today's Great Movie Themes (Columbia)
1970 Percy Faith Plays The Beatles (Columbia)
1971 Time For Love (Columbia)
1971 I Think I Love You (Columbia)
1971 Black Magic Woman (Columbia)
1971 Jesus Christ Superstar (Columbia)
1972 Joy (Columbia)
1972 Day By Day (Columbia)
1974 Theme From Chinatown (Columbia)
Video
Compilation Tracks
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