George Motola (November 15, 1919 – February 15, 1991) was a Producer, Songwriter, and Audio Engineer during the 1950s till his death. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Audio engineering is a part of audio science dealing with the recording and reproduction of Sound through mechanical and electronic means
Early life and career
(often misspelled as Mottola) was born in Hartford, Connecticut, one of five brothers in a typical Italian immigrant family. Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term
He started his business career as a used car dealer, but soon found out that music was his real interest. By the mid-1950s he was working as a producer at Modern Records in Los Angeles, where he supervised acts like Jesse Belvin, Young Jessie, Jimmy Beasley and many others. Modern Records was an American Record label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers — Jules, Saul Jesse Lorenzo Belvin ( December 15, 1932 – February 6, 1960) was an American R&B singer pianist and songwriter popular in the 1950s
His most famous composition is Goodnight My Love' which was originally recorded by Jesse Belvin in 1956 (# 7 R&B).
Subsequent versions by the McGuire Sisters (1957), Ray Peterson (1959), The Fleetwoods (1963), Ben E. King (1966) and Paul Anka (1969) all made the Billboard Top 100. The McGuire Sisters were a singing trio in American Popular music. Ray T Peterson ( April 23 1935 &ndash January 25 2005) was an American Pop music singer The Fleetwoods were a Singing trio from Olympia Washington, United States; formed in the late 1950s Ben E King (born Benjamin Earl Nelson, September 28 1938) is an American soul Singer. Paul Mustapha Abdi Anka, ( Arabic: بول مصطفى عبدي أنكا OC (born 30 July 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario) is a The writing credit goes to George Motola and John Marascalco. John S Marascalco (born 27 March 1931) is an American Songwriter who is most noted for his collaborations with Robert Blackwell.
The official version seems to be that Motola had written "Goodnight My Love" as early as 1946, but had never been able to finish it Belvin provided the lines for the bridge that completed the song, but asked for $ 400 instead of co-autorship credit. Motola didn't have the money, but John Marascalco did, paid Belvin and thus became listed as co-writer.
Motola was instrumental in the creation of The Shields, a group he formed with the sole purpose to cover "You Cheated" by The Slades for his own Tender label. The Slades were a vocal group out of Austin Texas. All the members and attended local McCallum High School The group included Frankie Ervin (lead singer), Jesse Belvin and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. Johnny "Guitar" Watson ( February 3, 1935 - May 17, 1996) was an American musician whose long career influenced the development Sold to Randy Wood's Dot Records label, "You Cheated" became a # 12 pop hit. Dot Records was an American Record label and company that was active between 1950 and 1977. However, the other side, "That's the Way It's Gonna Be", co-written by Motola, is far more interesting. In 1960, Motola produced one of the wildest rock 'n' roll recordings ever made, the utterly berserk "Rockin' This Joint Tonight" by Kid Thomas (real name Tommy Louis). Louis Thomas Watts, commonly known as Kid Thomas ( 20 June, 1934 - 5 April, 1970) was a Rock and roll and Blues Motola himself was too busy to do anything with the record, but he pointed the Kid in the direction of one Brat Atwood, who promptly took one-half writer's credit and issued it on his TRC label. Just as Thomas was all set to do some television appearances and start promoting the record, Atwood got into some unspecified problems and the label folded.
Motola was a prolific songwriter, with 120 entries in the BMI database. Among his compositions is "Shattered Dreams", recorded by the Johnny Burnette Trio, and he co-wrote "Here Comes Henry" for Young Jessie (with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller), both sides of the Ernie Fields 1958 single "Annie's Rock"/"Strollin' After School"(Jamie 1102) and "Lou Be Doo" far Sanford Clark.
Most of his co-writing was done together with his wife, Ricky Page, their best known composition being "Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie" (Eddie Cochran and others). Ricky Page was a recording star in her own right, with releases on Liberty, Dot, Zephyr and Rendezvous. Last year, her 1957 recording of "Wee Willie" (Liberty 55094, co-written by George Motola and Hal Winn) was included on the CD "Liberty Rock & Roll" ; Eddie Cochran may be playing guitar on this track, according to Tapio. Raymond Edward "Eddie" Cochran ( October 3, 1938 He took music lessons in school but quit the band to play drums The vocal group The Georgettes, which included Ricky Page, was named after George Motola. Their record "Love Like A Fool"/ "Oh Tonight" (Ebb 125, both sides Motola-Page compositions) got a release in the UK on London HL 8548. Ricky Page was also involved in several other groups (sometimes with other female members of her musical family) : The Bermudas (who recorded for Era), Joanne & the Triangles, The Majorettes and Beverly and the Motorscooters. Motola and Page also ran Troy Records, the original 1964 outlet for "He's My Boyfriend" by Becky and the Lollipops, yet another name used by the Page clan.
Death
George Motola died in 1991, survived by his wife and children. From a chartered boat filled with friends, business associates and family, the ashes of George Motola were scattered at sea, and his greatest hit was sung, a cappella, by Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods (for whom "Goodnight My Love" had been their 11th Billboard Hit).
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