Okay, we’ve had enough fun with Sue Raney’s Scopitone romp in the park. To see it and the comments about it, go here. But first, watch and listen to Ms. Raney sing a Henry Mancini song that has long been one of her signature pieces. This is the sort of thing I had in mind the other day when I used the adjective “divine” in referring to her.
I don’t know who the alto saxophone soloist is. He did a lovely job with the bridge.
I asked Gary Foster in Los Angeles who the alto player is … here’s his response:
The alto player is Ronnie Lang, a colleague here from the time I started doing studio work in the 60’s until his retirement a few years ago. Ronnie is a highly respected member of the woodwind doublers group here. He played flute, clarinet and saxophones beautifully. I first heard him as lead alto with Les Brown when the band played near my home in Kansas.
Ronnie was really #1 here. He was Mancini’s first woodwind from the beginning. We did hundreds of sessions together – TV, movies and records – over the years. He is well but inactive now.
Ronnie Lang was also the featured alto player on Bernard Herrmann’s classic score for the movie TAXI DRIVER. Like Gary, I first heard him with Les Brown. Wonderful sound – great player.
The saxophonist is the great studio musician Ronnie Lang. He can also be heard playing the soprano for Warren Beatty in the film Heaven Can Wait.