Genre

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Orchestral

 

101 Strings is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1957 by producer David L. Miller. The ensemble was known for its lush, orchestral arrangements of popular songs and classical pieces. The group's name was derived from the number of musicians in the ensemble, which was typically around 101. Miller had previously worked as a producer for Capitol Records and had produced albums for artists such as Nat King Cole and Peggy Lee. He founded 101 Strings as a way to create orchestral arrangements of popular songs that could be sold to a mass audience. The ensemble's first album, "The Soul of Spain," was released in 1957 and featured arrangements of Spanish folk songs. The main members of 101 Strings were a rotating cast of studio musicians who were hired to play on the ensemble's recordings. The group's arrangements were often credited to conductor and arranger Monty Kelly, who worked with the ensemble on many of its early albums. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, 101 Strings released a series of albums that featured orchestral arrangements of popular songs, as well as classical pieces. The group's albums were often marketed as easy listening music and were popular with a wide audience. Some of the highlights of 101 Strings' major performances include their appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1963, where they performed a medley of songs from the musical "My Fair Lady." The ensemble also performed at the White House for President Richard Nixon in 1970. 101 Strings received several awards throughout their career, including a Grammy nomination for their album "Astro-Sounds from Beyond the Year 2000" in 1969. The album featured space-themed arrangements of popular songs and was a departure from the group's usual style. Despite their popularity, 101 Strings faced criticism from some music critics who felt that their arrangements were overly sentimental and lacked the complexity of traditional classical music. However, the ensemble's lush, orchestral sound has continued to be popular with audiences and has influenced many other artists in the easy listening genre. 101 Strings continued to release albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, although their popularity began to wane as tastes in music shifted. The group's last album, "The Best of 101 Strings," was released in 1998. Today, 101 Strings is remembered as one of the most successful and influential easy listening ensembles of the 20th century. Their lush, orchestral arrangements of popular songs and classical pieces continue to be enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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