Enoch Henry Light (August 18, 1907 – July 31, 1978) was an American
classically trained violin
The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...
ist,
danceband leader, and
recording engineer.
As the leader of various dance bands that recorded as early as March 1927 and continuing through at least 1940, Light and his band primarily worked in various hotels in New York. For a time in 1928 he also led a band in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
. In the 1930s Light also studied conducting with the French conductor
Maurice Frigara in Paris.
Throughout the 1930s, Light and his band were steadily employed in upscale hotel restaurants and ballrooms in New York, playing popular songs for dining and dancing rather than out-and-out jazz.
At some point his band was tagged The Light Brigade and they often broadcast over radio live from the
Hotel Taft in New York, where they had a long residency. Through 1940, Light and his band recorded for various labels including Brunswick, ARC, Vocalion and Bluebird. In 1955, Light founded
Grand Award Records
Grand Award Records was a pop, jazz, and gospel music record label founded by violinist and conductor Enoch Light in Harrison, New Jersey in 1955.
Light used the liner notes to describe how the records were made and to advertise their importanc ...
and served as president and
A&R chief.
In 1959 he founded a subsidiary label,
Command Records
Command Records was a record label founded by Enoch Light in 1959 and, in October that year, was acquired by ABC-Paramount Records. Light produced a majority of the releases in the label's catalog.
Origin and history
After Grand Award Record ...
. Grand Award and its subsidiary labels were sold to
ABC-Paramount Records in October 1959. Light's name was prominent on many albums both as musician and producer.
Early years
Light was born in
Canton, Ohio
Canton () is a city in Stark County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, eighth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 70,872 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Canton–Massillo ...
, on August 18, 1907. While he was a student at
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...
, he formed his initial orchestra. When he took that group on tours of Europe in 1928 and 1929, he studied classical conducting at the
Mozarteum in Salzburg and the
Opera Comique in Paris.
He also studied at
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...
and the
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colle ...
.
Career
Light's early career in the United States had him leading orchestras on recordings and in dance halls, hotels, and theaters for about 10 years. His work was interrupted for two years while he recovered from a head-on automobile collision. When he was ready to resume his career, the big-band era had ended, and he turned to the business side of recorded music.
Light is credited with being one of the first musicians to go to extreme lengths to create high-quality recordings that took full advantage of the technical capabilities of home audio equipment of the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly
stereo effects that bounced the sounds between the right and left channels (often described as "
Ping-pong recording"), which had huge influence on the whole concept of multi-track recording that would become commonplace in the ensuing years. Doing so, he arranged his musicians in ways to produce the kinds of recorded sounds he wished to achieve, even completely isolating various groups of them from each other in the recording studio. The first of the
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
s produced for Command Records, ''
Persuasive Percussion'', became one of the first big-hit LP discs based solely on retail sales. Light's music received little or no airplay on the radio, because
AM radio
AM broadcasting is radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation (AM) transmissions. It was the first method developed for making audio radio transmissions, and is still used worldwide, primarily for medium wave (also known as "AM band") transmi ...
, the standard of the day, was
monaural
Monaural sound or monophonic sound (often shortened to mono) is sound intended to be heard as if it were emanating from one position. This contrasts with stereophonic sound or ''stereo'', which uses two separate audio channels to reproduce so ...
and had very poor fidelity. Light went on to release several albums in the ''Persuasive Percussion'' series, as well as a
Command test record.
The album covers were generally designed with
abstract,
minimalist artwork that stood out boldly from other album covers. These pieces were usually the work of
Josef Albers
Josef Albers ( , , ; March 19, 1888March 25, 1976) was a German-born American artist and Visual arts education, educator who is considered one of the most influential 20th-century art teachers in the United States. Born in 1888 in Bottrop, Westp ...
. Light was so interested in the sound of his music that he would include lengthy prose describing each song's sounds. In order to fit all of his descriptions on to the album sleeve, he doubled the size of the sleeve but enabled it to fold like a
book
A book is a structured presentation of recorded information, primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium. Originally physical, electronic books and audiobooks are now existent. Physical books are objects that contain printed material, ...
, thus popularizing the
gatefold packaging format. The gatefold sleeve became extremely popular in later decades, and was used on albums such as
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
' ''
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''.
Enoch Light released myriad albums in various
genres of music under a variety of names during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Some were released under
Grand Award Records
Grand Award Records was a pop, jazz, and gospel music record label founded by violinist and conductor Enoch Light in Harrison, New Jersey in 1955.
Light used the liner notes to describe how the records were made and to advertise their importanc ...
, which he founded in 1955. He founded
Command Records
Command Records was a record label founded by Enoch Light in 1959 and, in October that year, was acquired by ABC-Paramount Records. Light produced a majority of the releases in the label's catalog.
Origin and history
After Grand Award Record ...
in 1959.
ABC-Paramount Records acquired the Light family of labels in October 1959. Light stayed on to manage and handle A&R.
The music was intended for older audiences, presumably because he saw them as more serious audiophiles who had more money to spend on high-end stereo equipment, as opposed to most
popular music
Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...
of the time, which was generally intended for teenagers and young adults. During this time, he pioneered many recording techniques such as the use of
35 mm magnetic film instead of
magnetic tape
Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic storage made of a thin, magnetizable coating on a long, narrow strip of plastic film. It was developed in Germany in 1928, based on the earlier magnetic wire recording from Denmark. Devices that use magnetic ...
, reducing
wow and flutter, being driven by sprockets rather than a rubber
pinch wheel. The recordings were released under the "35MM" series, starting from "Stereo 35-MM" released by Command Records. Musicians who appeared on Light's albums include
The Free Design,
The Critters, Rain,
Doc Severinsen,
Tony Mottola,
Dick Hyman, and organist
Virgil Fox (on the
Wanamaker Organ). As an arranger, Lew Davies was one of the label's most important contributors.
Light remained with the ABC/Command family until 1965. After his departure, the quality of the records plummeted dramatically. The signature gatefold format (along with Light's prose) was immediately discontinued, and the covers changed to budget labels pressed on recycled vinyl. In 1975, they were completely discontinued.
Light joined forces with the
Singer Corporation in August 1966, to help the company launch production of phonograph records, tapes, and tape cartridges. Plans called for a new company to be formed, with Light and Singer each having half-interest and Light as both president and chief executive officer.
Light's new label was called
Project 3. It did not concentrate as heavily on stereo effects. Light recorded several successful
big band
A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s and ...
albums with an ace group of New York studio musicians, many of whom were veterans of the bands of the
swing era who were still regularly working in New York's television and recording studios. Released as ''Enoch Light and the Light Brigade'', the arrangements used on the recordings were transcribed note-for-note from some of what were the hallmark recordings by many of the best bands of the swing era.
The arranging reconstructions of these now "classic" arrangements were completely reconstructed by arrangers Dick Lieb, Dick Hyman, Tony Mottola and Jeff Hest. Many of the musicians employed for this series of "re-creations" had been members of the original bands that made the original records decades earlier. This veritable Who's Who of swing-era veterans included saxophonists
Phil Bodner,
Walt Levinsky (both also heavily featured on clarinet),
Al Klink,
Boomie Richman, Romeo Penque, and Sol Schlinger; trumpeters Mel Davis,
Rusty Dedrick,
Bernie Glow, Bob McCoy, and
Marvin Stamm; trombonists
Wayne Andre,
Urbie Green,
Lou McGarity,
Buddy Morrow, and Santo Russo; guitarist Tony Mottola; bassists
Bob Haggart and
George Duvivier; drummers
Don Lamond and
Ronnie Zito; pianists Dick Hyman and
Derek Smith and vibraharpist Phil Kraus.
Personal life and death
Light married Mary Danis, who acted on stage and sang on recordings and on radio. They had two daughters.
Light retired from music entirely in 1974. He died on July 31, 1978, at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, aged 71.
[
]
Legacy
Light released 25 albums over 12 years (1959–71), with two of them reaching number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' album chart. He holds the record for having the most charting LPs without having a Top 40 single, as reported by Casey Kasem on the American Top 40
''American Top 40'' (abbreviated to ''AT40'') is an internationally radio syndication, syndicated, independent song countdown radio programming, radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds, and Ron Jacobs (broadcaster), Ron Jaco ...
broadcast of 14 October 1978.
Events coinciding with Light's birthday near his birthplace of northeastern Ohio have occurred since the late 1990s. The most recent was 2014's Enoch Light Birthday Memorial Go-Go Happening, which featured bands performing Light's work and multimedia installations remixing the distinctive Command Records
Command Records was a record label founded by Enoch Light in 1959 and, in October that year, was acquired by ABC-Paramount Records. Light produced a majority of the releases in the label's catalog.
Origin and history
After Grand Award Record ...
album cover designs.
Discography
''Big Band Hits of the 30s'' (Project 3, PR-5049) P-1 / 13 tracks* Begin The Beguine – Artie Shaw version
* A String of Pearls – Glenn Miller version
* I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You – Tommy Dorsey version
* We'll Git It! – Tommy Dorsey version
* Woodchopper's Ball – Woody Herman version
* One O'Clock Jump – Count Basie
William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...
version
* Moonlight Serenade – Glenn Miller version
* Let's Dance – Benny Goodman version
* In The Mood – Glenn Miller version
* Ciribiribin – Harry James
Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band to great commercial success from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947, but ...
version
* Snowfall – Claude Thornhill version
* South Rampart Street Parade – Bob Crosby version
* Take The "A" Train – Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life.
Born and raised in Washington, D ...
version
''Big Band Hits of the 30s, Vol. 2'' (Project 3, PR-5089) P-2 / 12 tracks* Stardust – Benny Goodman version
* American Patrol – Glenn Miller version
* Sugar Blues – Clyde McCoy version
* Solitude
Solitude, also known as social withdrawal, is a state of seclusion or isolation, meaning lack of socialisation. Effects can be either positive or negative, depending on the situation. Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may wo ...
– Duke Ellington version
* King Porter Stomp "King Porter Stomp" is a jazz standard by pianist Jelly Roll Morton, first recorded in 1923. The composition is considered to be important in the development of jazz.Magee, Jeffrey. "'King Porter Stomp' and the Jazz Tradition", p.46, ''Current Musi ...
– Benny Goodman version
* What Is This Thing Called Love? – Artie Shaw version
* Bugle Call Rag – Benny Goodman version
* Smoke Rings – Casa Loma Orchestra version
* Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise – Artie Shaw version
* Boogie Woogie – Tommy Dorsey version
* Caravan – Duke Ellington version
* Little Brown Jug – Glenn Miller version
''Big Band Hits of the 30s and 40s'' (Project 3, PR-5056) P-3 / 13 tracks; CD re-issue = 12 tracks* Cherokee
The Cherokee (; , or ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern ...
– Charlie Barnet version
* April in Paris – Count Basie version
* I Can't Get Started
"I Can't Get Started", also known as "I Can't Get Started with You" or "I Can't Get Started (With You)", is a popular song. It was written in 1936 by Vernon Duke (music) and Ira Gershwin (lyrics) and introduced that year in the revue ''Ziegfeld Fo ...
– Bunny Berigan version
* Jersey Bounce – Benny Goodman version
* Sing, Sing, Sing (Part 1)* – Benny Goodman version
* Sing, Sing, Sing (Part 2)* – Benny Goodman version
* Marie – Tommy Dorsey version
* I'll Never Smile Again – Tommy Dorsey version
* Don't Get Around Much Anymore – Duke Ellington version
* Moonlight Sonata – Glenn Miller version
* Flying Home – Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and bandleader. He worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, an ...
version
* Tuxedo Junction – Glenn Miller version
* Four Brothers – Woody Herman version
(*) These two tracks were merged into one continuous track on CD re-issues.
''Big Band Hits of the 40s and 50s'' (Project 3, PR-5076) P-4 / 12 tracks* Chattanooga Choo Choo – Glenn Miller version
* You Made Me Love You – Harry James version
* Satin Doll – Duke Ellington version
* On A Slow Boat To China – Kay Kyser version
* Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White – Prez Prado version
* Pennsylvania 6-5000 – Glenn Miller version
* Song of India – Tommy Dorsey version
* Sentimental Journey – Les Brown version
* Don't Be That Way – Benny Goodman version
* Heartaches – Ted Weems version
* Sunrise Serenade – Glenn Miller version
* Stompin' At The Savoy
"Stompin' at the Savoy" is a 1933 jazz standard composed by Edgar Sampson. It is named after the famed Harlem nightspot the Savoy Ballroom in New York City.
History and composition
Although the song is often credited to Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, ...
– Benny Goodman version
LP-1 and -4 and LP-2 and -3 were reissued as two double album compilation LPs, but the various compilation double-album releases of LP-2 and -3 are missing two tracks that originally appeared on LP-3.
References
External links
Spaced Out – Enoch Light website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Light, Enoch
1907 births
1978 deaths
American bandleaders
Bell Records artists
American big band bandleaders
American male violinists
Musicians from Canton, Ohio
American audio engineers
Quadraphonic sound engineers
20th-century American violinists
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development alumni
Engineers from Ohio
20th-century American engineers
20th-century American male musicians
American easy listening musicians