Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

March 14, 1922 in Mexia, TX

Death

:

January 15, 1996 in Newport Beach, CA

Genre

:

Crossover

 

 

Keyboard

 

Les Baxter was an American musician and composer who was born on March 14, 1922, in Mexia, Texas. He was the son of a pianist and a singer, and he grew up in a musical family. Baxter started playing the piano at a young age, and he showed a natural talent for music. He was also interested in other forms of art, such as painting and writing. Baxter's family moved to California when he was a teenager, and he continued to pursue his musical interests. He studied at the Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, where he learned to play a variety of instruments, including the piano, clarinet, and saxophone. He also studied composition and orchestration, which would become important skills in his later career. Baxter began his professional career as a musician in the 1940s, playing in various bands and orchestras. He also worked as a arranger and composer for radio and television programs. In 1947, he signed a contract with Capitol Records, which would become his primary label for the rest of his career. Baxter's early recordings were in the jazz and swing genres, but he soon began to experiment with other styles of music. He was particularly interested in the music of other cultures, such as Latin American and African music. He also incorporated elements of classical music into his compositions, creating a unique sound that would become his trademark. One of Baxter's most famous compositions was "Quiet Village," which he wrote in 1951. The song was inspired by the sounds of a tropical island, and it featured exotic percussion instruments and lush orchestration. "Quiet Village" became a hit, and it helped to establish Baxter as a leading figure in the exotica genre. Baxter continued to experiment with different styles of music throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He wrote music for films and television shows, including the theme for the TV series "Adventures in Paradise." He also recorded a series of albums that featured his unique blend of exotic and classical music. In 1960, Baxter won a Grammy Award for his album "Le Sacre du Sauvage," which was a tribute to the music of Igor Stravinsky. The album featured Baxter's own arrangements of Stravinsky's music, and it was praised for its innovative approach to classical music. Baxter continued to record and perform throughout the 1970s and 1980s, although his popularity began to wane as musical tastes changed. He remained a respected figure in the music industry, however, and he continued to influence younger musicians with his innovative approach to music. Les Baxter died on January 15, 1996, at the age of 73. He left behind a legacy of innovative and influential music, and he remains an important figure in the history of American music.

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