Dimitri Tiomkin with Frankie Laine and others

Legendary entertainer Frankie Laine died February 6 in San Diego, California, of heart failure at age 93. His powerful voice and confident delivery led to a string of hits, romantic ballads and Western songs among the most popular. Early in his career, Laine gained recognition by recording film and television theme songs. These included several composed by Dimitri Tiomkin: Blowing Wild (1953), Strange Lady in Town (1955), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), “The Green Leaves of Summer,” from The Alamo (1960), and the made-for-television movie Gunslinger (1961). In fact, Laine’s was the voice immortalizing two of the most memorable Western songs of 20th-century film and television: “Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,” from High Noon, and the title theme from the television series Rawhide. London’s Daily Telegraph called Laine “the most successful of the black-influenced white singers who came to prominence in the post-war era.”

Next week, in recognition of Black History Month, we will post a new article that examines the influence of African American music on Tiomkin and his association with some of the finest black musicians of the 20th century, including singers Nat “King” Cole, Mahalia Jackson, Eva Jessye, and Kitty White, and arrangers Benny Carter, Jester Hairston, Hall Johnson, and William Grant Still.

Sources

• Los Angeles Times
• The Daily Telegraph
• www.FrankieLaine.com
• www.wikipedia.com