Saturday, September 24, 2016

Raymond Scott

Raymond Scott
9 x 9 inches, oil on canvas, 2016
Not many people today know about Raymond Scott (1908-1994) but some of his music will be recognized by many. In the 1943 Warner Brothers bought the publishing rights for his music and used it in many of its animated cartoons. Powerhouse, originally recorded by the Raymond Scott Quintette in 1937, was used multiple times in Loony Tunes and Merrie Melodies, most notably in Bugs Bunny. It has been used four times in The Simpsons, in The Bernie Mac Show, The Drew Carey Show, and in many other TV productions. Raymond's Toy Trumpet became famous as In the Army Now from the cartoon Ren and Stimpy. His frantic jazz theme of Powerhouse is known now as the Assembly Line music in animated cartoons. Raymond Scott was an early electronic music pioneer who recorded a number of experimental records. Soothing Sounds for Babies is an odd but groundbreaking recording collaborated with The Gesell Institute of Child Development.