Nicholas Perito (April 7, 1924 – August 4, 2005)
[ was an American Hollywood composer and arranger and, for 40 years, the closest collaborator of singer Perry Como.]
Life
Early years
Born in Denver, Perito's start in music was at an early age, when he received an accordion as a gift from his parents. Both his uncle and brother encouraged his learning by gifts of sheet music; as he mastered one song, he would then be given a new one as an incentive. Perito started performing at parties at a young age and received a scholarship to the Lamont School of Music, studying at the University of Denver
The University of Denver (DU) is a private research university in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest independent private university in the Rocky Mountain Region of the United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Univ ...
.[
Being drafted in 1943 took him to New York, where he served as an Army medic in World War II; he also played piano and did musical arrangements for the Army band.][ The band musicians were given passes on weekends if there were no military engagements for them and were allowed to pick up jobs during this time.][ Perito remained in New York after World War II, entering the Juilliard School of Music and graduating from the college in 1949.][
]
Career
Perito went home to Denver to marry his high school sweetheart, Judy Stone, and worked at Denver's KOA with his own weekday radio program in 1946. The couple then settled in New York, where he worked as a songwriter, arranger, and accordion/piano session musician. Perito also had his own band that had a permanent spot at Jack Dempsey's Broadway Restaurant
Jack Dempsey's Broadway Restaurant, known popularly as Jack Dempsey's, was a restaurant located in the Brill Building on Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway between 49th Street (Manhattan), 49th Street and 50th Street (Manhattan), 50th Streets in Manh ...
, owned by the boxer. His first association with Perry Como came through Como's arranger, Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
, in the early 1950s. Como had recorded a novelty song, "Hoop-De-Doo", and Perito was hired to accompany him on accordion for television performances of the song.[ He became the musical director of ]United Artists Records
United Artists Records was an American record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 to issue movie soundtracks. The label expanded into other genres, such as easy listening, jazz, pop, and R&B.
History Genres
In 1959, ...
in 1961.
In 1963, Como's musical conductor, Mitchell Ayres
Mitchell Ayres (December 24, 1909 – September 5, 1969) was an orchestra leader, music arranger, composer and performer. He is best known for his many years of work with Perry Como on radio, records, and television and as the musical condu ...
, wanted to hire some new arrangers for Como's television show; Ray Charles recommended Perito to Ayres. When Ayres left to take a job as the conductor of ''The Hollywood Palace
''The Hollywood Palace'' was an hour-long American television variety show that was broadcast weekly Saturday nights (except September 1967 to January 1968, when it was seen Monday nights) on ABC from January 4, 1964, to February 7, 1970. Titl ...
'', Perito became the singer's music director and conductor.[ Como credited Perito with the idea of making his 1987 album, '']Today
Today (archaically to-day) may refer to:
* Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now''
* Current era, present
* The current calendar date
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 ...
''. Perito worked with Como through his last performance: his Irish Christmas special in 1994. When Mitchell Ayres was killed in a traffic accident in 1969, former Como show producer Nick Vanoff, who was now with ''The Hollywood Palace'', suggested Perito as Ayres' replacement.
Perito's other credits include the '' Kennedy Center Honors'', where he again worked with Vanoff. He was also the musical director for the American Film Institute awards, as well as ''The Don Knotts Show
''The Don Knotts Show'' was a variety program aired by NBC as part of its 1970-71 lineup.Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows''
Long relegated to the role of sidekick, which he had portr ...
'', Andy Williams and Bing Crosby television specials. Perito wrote the music for the 1968 film, ''Don't Just Stand There!
''Don't Just Stand There!'' is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Ron Winston and written by Charles Williams. It is based on the 1966 novel ''The Wrong Venus'' by Charles Williams. The film stars Robert Wagner, Mary Tyler Moore, Glynis Joh ...
'' with Robert Wagner
Robert John Wagner Jr. (born February 10, 1930) is an American actor of stage, screen, and television. He is known for starring in the television shows '' It Takes a Thief'' (1968–1970), ''Switch'' (1975–1978), and '' Hart to Hart'' (1979 ...
and Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore (December 29, 1936 – January 25, 2017) was an American actress, producer, and social advocate. She is best known for her roles on ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' (1961–1966) and ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1970–1977), which ...
.[ In the same year, Perito played the accordion on the only solo vocal album of his friend and associate, Ray Charles, ''Memories of a Middle-Aged Movie Fan''. Perito was also an influential arranger of background music for ]Muzak
Muzak is an American brand of background music played in retail stores and other public establishments. The name has been in use since 1934, and has been owned by a division or subsidiary of one or another company ever since. In 1981, Westingho ...
in the late 1960s and early 70s.
He became the musical director for Bob Hope
Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in Bob Hope filmography, more than 70 short and ...
in 1993, and worked with Hope's wife, Dolores, when she decided to pick up her singing career after 60 years.[ Perito played accordion for actor ]Paul Sorvino
Paul Anthony Sorvino (, ; April 13, 1939 – July 25, 2022) was an American actor. He often portrayed authority figures on both the criminal and the law enforcement sides of the law.
Sorvino was particularly known for his roles as Lucchese cri ...
's PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
musical special in 1996. Perito, along with musicians Dick Grove
Richard Dean Grove (1927 – December 26, 1998) was an American musician, composer, arranger, and educator. He is best known as the founder of the Dick Grove School of Music. Its students include Michael Jackson, Linda Ronstadt, and Barry Manilow ...
and Allyn Ferguson
Allyn Malcolm Ferguson Jr. (October 18, 1924 – June 23, 2010) was an American composer, whose works include the themes for 1970s television programs ''Barney Miller'' and '' Charlie's Angels'' (1976-1981), which he co-wrote with Jack Elliott ...
, was a founder and partner in the Grove School of Music in Van Nuys, California
Van Nuys () is a neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Home to Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building, it is the most populous neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley.
History
In 1909, ...
. The school was accredited in 1979 but could no longer afford to keep its doors open by 1991.
Honors
His work earned Perito a dozen Emmy nominations.[ a year before his death of ]pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs become scarred over time. Symptoms include shortness of breath, a dry cough, feeling tired, weight loss, and nail clubbing. Complications may include pulmonary hypertension, respiratory failu ...
in Hollywood.[
]
Works
;As composer:
*'' Stay with Me'', 1950s
*''We Are Love
''We Are Love'' is the second studio album by Italian operatic pop trio Il Volo, released by Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label established by David Geffen and owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen ...
'', 1950s
*''The Green Leaves of Summer
"The Green Leaves of Summer" is a song by Paul Francis Webster, with music by Dimitri Tiomkin, written for the 1960 film '' The Alamo''. It was performed in the film's score by the vocal group The Brothers Four. In 1961, the song was nominated fo ...
'' (with others)
*'' Anema E Core'' (with others)
*''Misirlou
"Misirlou" ( el, Μισιρλού < tr, Mısırlı 'Egyptian' < ar, مصر ''Miṣr'' 'Egypt') is a folk song from the Eastern Mediterranean region. The original author of the song is not known, but Arabic, Greek, and Jewish musicians we ...
/ Quien Sera'' (with others)
*'' Oh Calcutta''
*'' Mountains of Kisses''
*'' Pianola Pete''
;As conductor, arranger, director or producer:
*Many.[See ]
References
External links
Perry Como Collection 1955–1994-University of Colorado at Boulder Archives
created by Perry Como, Mickey Glass, and Nick Perito
Nick Perito Luncheon
January 2005, American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers
September 22, 2005, John Sawoski
Nick Perito Conducting Videos
Percy Faith arrangements for JVC. Capitol Records, Los Angeles, 1994
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perito, Nick
American male composers
2005 deaths
1924 births
Juilliard School alumni
Musicians from Denver
American music arrangers
Songwriters from Colorado
University of Denver alumni
Writers from California
Writers from Denver
American male conductors (music)
Orchestra leaders
Deaths from pulmonary fibrosis
20th-century American composers
20th-century American conductors (music)
20th-century American male musicians
American male songwriters