REMEMBERING RAY EVANS

[John Pizzarelli]

Weekend of May 10, 2008
“Ray Evans”

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John & Jessica remember songwriter Ray Evans, who with partner Jay Livingstion, wrote "Mona Lisa," "Buttons and Bows," "Whatever Will Be," Will Be," "Never Let Me Go," "Tammy," "Silver Bells," and many other hits. They play a 2005 interview with Ray, and of course many of his songs.


Harry Connick, Jr.
Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home
(Oh My Nola)

Harry Connick, Jr. Jambalaya
(Oh My Nola)

Norah Jones
Thinking About You
(Not Too Late)

Tierney Sutton & Jack Sheldon
I Want To Be Happy
(On the Other Side)

Nat King Cole
Mona Lisa
(Unforgettable)

Nat King Cole
Warm and Willing
(The Songs of Jimmy McHugh)

Janis Siegel w/ Fred Hersch
Never Let Me Go
(Short Stories)

Al Caiola
Bonanza
(Instrumental Gems of the '60s)

John Pizzarelli
I Was a Little Too Lonely
(live in studio)

Sarah Vaughan
Mr. Lucky
(Viva! Vaughn)

Pink Martini
Whatever Will Be Will Be
(Sympathique)

Richard Cheese
Bonanza Theme
(Dick at Nite)

Dinah Shore
Buttons and Bows
(16 Most Requested Songs: Dinah Shore)

Rosemary Clooney
Ya Got Class
(Sentimental Journey: The Girl Singer and Her New Big Band)

Tony Bennett
Maybe September
(Hollywood Magic-The 1960s)

Willie Nelson
To Each His Own
(What a Wonderful World)

Television Soundtrack
Mister Ed Theme
(Television's Greatest Hits)

Dave Grusin
Dreamsville
(Two for the Road)

Mark Goldenberg
Bring
(Mark Goldenberg)

Pat Metheny
James
(Offramp)

Michael Feinstein
The Late Scene
(Livingston and Evans Songbook)

John Pizzarelli
When I Grow Too Old To Dream
(Naturally)

Jessica Molaskey
All the Cats Join in
(A Good Day)

[Barry Kunz]

Ah, that lovely Ray Evans interview, I remember it well; it’s as if I had been sitting there right next to him, he and his endless collection of story and song. He was clearly excited about his upcoming 90th birthday celebration, and never at a loss for words, filling in blanks and empty spaces about his very successful career with Jay Livingston (a tip of the hat to Michael Feintein for breathing life into some of the duo’s words and music that had not yet been recorded, especially the stirring, “The Late Scene”).

I had met Ray in his later years at a big band reunion in Los Angeles featuring the brass, wind, and thunder of Pat Longo’s Hollywood Big Band.

Afterwards Ray and I visited from time to time at his Beverly Hills home, and in time—about a year before he left us—he wrote, as a favor to me, the most delightful collection of words for a bed and breakfast song (the first bed and breakfast song ever) for a premium travel music CD I’d been working on (it includes a terrific Jessica Molaskey track, “By the Beautiful Sea.” She really is fabulous (you need to hear her, “I Love the Way You’re Breaking My Heart”).

My friendship with Ray Evans was much too short. But during that time he had shared with me a number of stories behind his songs, invited me to his 90th birthday party, and without him, “A Cozy Bed and Breakfast” might never have come to life.

I had seen Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” in Paris, and to shake the hand of the man who had written (with Jay Livingston) “Mona Lisa;” that alone would have been a big deal to me. But Ray Evans made it more; that was his style.

Barry Kunz

[Laura]

Thank you very much for your comment on the Ray Evans show, Barry! So interesting your relationship with Ray and your stories about him. Your entry enriches the experience of listening to this episode of Radio Deluxe. That's the whole idea of having this social network so we can swap our Deluxe stories, so thanks again for sharing yours.
Laura