Who is Raymond Scott
May 23rd, 2020

Moderated by Chuck Fernandez

Featuring

Skip Heller, Ego Plum
Stan Warnow, Jeff Winner
Don Williams Interview

Chat Room Moderators:
Glenn Jordan & Liz Finch

Who Is Raymond Scott?

Most composers who even know who Raymond Scott is, know him from the use of his music in cartoons but Raymond began his career as a pianist for the CBS Radio House Band in 1931. His brother Mark was the conductor / musical director for the CBS radio program “Your Hit Parade”. When he started working for his brother he adopted the pseudonym “Raymond Scott” (He was born Harry Warnow) to spare his brother charges of nepotism when the orchestra began performing Scott’s compositions.

In late 1936, Scott assembled a band from among his CBS colleagues, calling it the Raymond Scott Quintette. Three years later in 1942 he became CBS radio’s music director and assembled the first racially integrated studio band, strongly encouraged by Columbia Records’ legendary A&R man John Hammond, who saw music as a means to social justice.

In 1943, Raymond Scott sold his music publishing to Warner Bros, which allowed Carl Stalling, music director for Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, to adapt anything in the Warner music catalog. Scott never wrote for cartoons himself, Carl Stalling adapted it over 153 times in 120 Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, and other Warner’s cartoons.

The most recognizable Raymond Scott tune from animation is no doubt “Powerhouse” Scott’s tunes have also been licensed to The Simpsons,
The Ren and Stimpy Show, Animaniacs, The Oblongs, Batfink, and Duckman. “Powerhouse” was quoted ten times in the
Warner Brothers feature Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003

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