- Q:
When
was Raymond Scott born-?
A:
Raymond
Scott was born in 1908, on September 10th. (Some
publications incorrectly list 1909, or 1910, but 1908 is the
correct.year.)
-
- Q:
Is
Raymond Scott still alive-?
- A:
No,
Raymond Scott passed away at the age of.85,
on February 8th,-1994.
-
- Q:
What
is the name of the ''assembly-line'' (or ''conveyor-belt,''
or ''factory,'' or ''construction,'' or ''robot'')
music I've heard in so many.cartoons-?
- A:
The
title is "Powerhouse",
and it was written, performed, and first recorded by Raymond
Scott in.1936. (Listen here.)
-
- Q:
I
heard a Raymond Scott riff entitled ''Powerhouse,'' which
sounded familiar because I have heard it in cartoons, but it's
not the 'mechanical' tune I expected. Is this another part
of the same.song-?
- A:
Yes, "Powerhouse" contains two major sections that are both well-known as 'cartoon music.' Part "A" (listen here) has a 'frantic, running-around' feel. It's been used in dozens of WB cartoons in addition to section "B," (listen here) which is the 'assembly-line'.riff. (Check
the WB cartoon index
for all "Powerhouse".quotes.)
-
- Q:
For
what CARTOONS did Raymond Scott write.music-?
- A:
Raymond
Scott never wrote music for any cartoons! However,
about 20 Raymond Scott songs (including "Powerhouse")
have been featured in many.cartoons:
-
- Q:
How
did WARNER BROS. get the rights to use Raymond Scott's
music in all those.cartoons-?
- A:
Publishing
rights for a limited catalog of Scott's titles was sold to WB
in 1943, perhaps not specifically for use in cartoons (although
this is conceivable). Carl Stalling, WB music director, obviously
liked Scott's music, because he used so much of it in his cartoon
scores. Perhaps Stalling had played a role in WB acquiring the
Scott titles, but there's no proof either.way.
-
- Q:
Is
it true that Raymond Scott worked with BOB MOOG, the inventor
of MOOG.SYNTHESIZERS-?
- A:
Although
Bob Moog was more than 25 years younger than Raymond Scott, they were professional colleagues and friends for nearly 2 decades. Bob Moog acknowledged Scott as an early influence during the 1950s and '60s. Details about Scott-Moog connections
can be found.here...
- Q:
Did
Raymond Scott work for.MOTOWN-?
- A:
During
the 1950s and '60s, Raymond Scott perfected his 'Electronium,'
an electronic music machine
which attracted the attention of Motown
owner, Berry
Gordy, who purchased an Electronium for Motown in September of 1970. Scott then became Motown's "Director of Electronic Research and Development" for several years. Following
a serious heartattack in 1977, Scott retired from Motown at age-69.
- Q:
Is Raymond
Scott's tune, "Powerhouse," or others he wrote in the
public domain-?
- A:
No.
All Raymond Scott compositions are still under copyright protection.
Under
current copyright law, titles copyrighted before 1978 are protected
for a period of 95 years from the date of first copyright. "Powerhouse"
dates from 1937, and will not enter the public domain until
2033. Scott's earliest copyrighted title ("You're My Lucky Charm") dates from 1933, and many of his electronic recordings from the 1950s through the early-'80s were copyrighted after his death in 1994.
- Q:
Where
can I find Raymond Scott's music on.CD-?
- A:
For
Raymond Scott CD
ordering suggestions, click here.
- Q:
Where can
I find printed scores, or sheet music of Raymond
Scott's music-?
- A:
Send an e-mail query to info@RaymondScott.com and a PDF file of available Raymond Scott parts will be emailed to you. These charts are not commercially available, but we provide copies to interested musicians, conductors, bandleaders, and academic groups for the minimal costs of processing, copying, and shipping. The list includes arrangements of various titles for piano, sextet, and/or small orchestra (12-15 parts), as well as several larger arrangements, and a number of basic lead sheets. Instrumentation is indicated for each available title, so you can determine what best suits your needs.
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- Q:
Was
Johnny Williams, drummer for the 1930s Raymond Scott Quintette,
related to JOHN WILLIAMS, the famous film score (JAWS, STAR WARS, etc.).composer-?
- A:
Yes,
they are father and.son.
- Q:
I've
heard that Raymond Scott worked with MUPPETS creator JIM HENSON.
Is this.true-?
- A:
Although
Jim
Henson was more than 25 years younger than Raymond Scott, they met in the mid-1960s and collaborated on several projects, including experimental films (titled "Wheels That Go," "Ripples," and "Limbo," aka "The Organized Mind"), an industrial film for IBM titled, "The Paperwork Explosion," and even a TV commercial for Bufferin® brand pain reliever, entitled."Memories." Many of the Scott-Henson collaborations can be heard on the 2-CD/144-page book set titled, MANHATTAN RESEARCH
INC.
- Q:
Did
the rock band RUSH get sued and have to pay royalties
for their unauthorized use of Raymond Scott's ''Powerhouse''
in their 1978 recording ''La Villa.Strangiato''-?
- A:
By
the time Raymond Scott's publisher notified the band's management
of the infringement, the statute of limitations had expired on
the challenge. But Rush's management, out of deference to Mr.
and Mrs. Scott (Raymond was still alive at that point), offered
a one-time "penance" payment, feeling it was the ethical
thing to do. All involved were happy with the resolution, and
Rush has no further financial obligations. Under the settlement,
they were not required to accord RS partial songwriting credit
on the.piece.
- Q:
Was
Raymond Scott's music used in the Disney film HONEY, I SHRUNK
THE.KIDS-?
- A:
The
film score was written by noted klepto-composer* James Horner,
who cleverly appropriated Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse"
in approx. 17 scenes, without crediting Scott. Disney was threatened
with a lawsuit by Scott's publishers, and after a year of negotiation,
the matter was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. Although
the film's screen credits were not revised, the film's cue sheets
(music logs) were revised to reflect a dozen or so uses of "Powerhouse."
This means Scott's heirs and publishers earn performance revenue
through ASCAP when the film airs on TV and elsewhere. (*
see New Yorker magazine, March 9, 1998)
- Q:
Why
did Raymond Scott call his 6-member band the.''QUINTETTE''-?
- A:
Even
though he always played (piano) in the band, Raymond Scott didn't
count himself. Plus he preferred "Quintette" because
the word had a "crisp" sound. A Chicago journalist
reported it was "because Raymond feared calling it a 'sextet'
might get your mind off.music".
- Q:
Why
did Raymond Scott spell ''Quintette'' like that-?
- A:
Raymond
Scott was conservatory-trained (Juilliard) and used many classical
motifs in his arrangements; using this archaic spelling may have
been a nod towards.elegance.
- Q:
There's
a 19-second long, unlisted track (#23) on the RECKLESS
NIGHTS AND TURKISH TWILIGHTS CD. What is it and why does it sound.familiar-?
- A:
It's a false start by the Raymond Scott Quintette rehearsing Scott's "Egyptian Barn Dance." The melody was adapted by Carl Stalling in the opening credits of the 1953 Warner Bros. classic, "Duck Dodgers in the 24-1/2 Century" (which also contains "Powerhouse"). The full RSQ version of "Egyptian Barn Dance" was left off the CD because the master disc could not be located in the Sony.Archives
at the time. UPDATE: The complete, original 1930s recording
of "Egyptian Barn Dance" was uncovered recently, and
is now available as part of the new 2-CD set titled MICROPHONE
MUSIC.
Details here...
- Q:
I
am working on a school report or essay or academic
project about Raymond Scott and/or composers or inventors.
Can you provide biographical info about Raymond.Scott-?
- A:
There
are numerous articles about Raymond
Scott on this site, and a timeline detailing his life (along with a comprehensive and updated bibliography).
Click here
for Raymond Scott articles.
Still need more info? E-mail us: info@RaymondScott.com
- ?:
Do
you have a question about Raymond Scott that isn't answered.here-?
Or,
would you like more info about any of the questions answered
on this page-?
- !:
Please e-mail your Raymond Scott question to: info@RaymondScott.com
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