Limonick, Marvin (23rd November 1921-16th December 1984)

Violinist born in New York whose earliest credit seems to be an Artie Shaw recording of “In the Still of the Night” in 1941.

In 1955, he performed on the Mel Torme album, It’s a Blue World. The following year, he was in the studio with Frank Sinatra, laying down tracks for Close to You. In 1957, he appeared on Laurie Allyn’s Paradise, and recorded While My Lady Sleeps with Phineas Newborn, Jr., and Dedicated to the Golden State: Mel Torme’s California Suite. Staying with the theme, he was a member of the string section on Chet Atkins in Hollywood, released in 1959. The same year, he also appeared on the multi-volume set, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Books. More of these were released the following year.

In 1960, he played violin on what would become one of his most famous recordings, “Moon River”, for Henry Mancini’s soundtrack to Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and celebrated the Yuletide with Peggy Lee on Christmas Carousel. He reunited with Henry Mancini in 1961, recording the soundtrack of Hatari!, and Frank Sinatra, recording I Remember Tommy. In 1962, he recorded “Bring it on Home to Me” and “Having a Party” with Sam Cooke and appeared on the soundtrack of How the West Was Won.

He then rejoined Henry Mancini for the soundtrack of Charade, released in 1963, and appeared on a pair of Bobby Darin albums, It’s You or No One and From Hello Dolly to Goodbye Charlie, released in 1963 and 1964, respectively. In 1966, he recorded Latin in the Horn with Al Hirthelped launch the career of guitarist Mitch Holder by putting him in touch with Howard Roberts.

He then recorded one of the most famous theme songs of all time, Lalo Schifrin’s “Mission: Impossible”, for the television program of the same name. In 1968, he shared more studio time with Lalo Schifrin, recording the soundtrack of The Fox and There’s a Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin’ On, and appeared on Elvis Presley’s NBC-TV special and The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees. He also appeared on The Monkees’ follow-up, Instant Replay, and the soundtrack of Che!, in 1969.

In 1970, he was back with Lalo Schifrin, recording the soundtrack of Kelly’s Heroes, and was an erstwhile member of The Cannonball Adderley Quintet & Orchestra. He worked with a pair of Williams in 1972, recording With Love with Joe Williams, and performing on Life Goes On with Paul Williams. In 1973, he appeared on Steve Ferguson’s eponymous album and Neil Diamond’s soundtrack of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. He then waxed poetic on Don Ellis’s Haiku in 1974. In 1975, he recorded Collage with Luis Gasca and appeared on The Tubes album, White Punks on Dope.

America’s bicentennial year was a busy one for Marvin: He recorded There’s Music in the Airwith Letta Mbulu and appeared on The Monkees’ Greatest Hits, The Tubes’ Young and Rich, Tom Waits’ Small Change, and the soundtrack of The Enforcer. In 1977, he reunited with Neil Diamond on his album, I’m Glad You’re Here with Me Tonight, and performed on the soundtrack of the television mini-series, Washington: Behind Closed Doors.

He was a founder of the American Art Quartet and throughout the mid-to-late ‘70s, Marvin was a member of the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra. Many of these musicians, including Marvin, appeared on Frank Sinatra’s 1979 boxed set, Trilogy. He then appeared on a pair of Earth, Wind & Fire albums, Faces and Raise!, which hit the shelves in 1980 and 1981, respectively. In 1981, he performed on what appear to be his last albums, A Woman Needs Love by Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio, Significant Gains by Greg Phillinganes, and Elmer Bernstein’s soundtrack of the Bill Murray military comedy, Stripes.

There are myriad opportunities to hear him on CD, however, on collections such as The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books, The Mel Torme Collection: 1944-1985, and Send in the Clowns: The Very Best of Sarah Vaughan.

He died in Los Angeles, California, when he was 63 years old.

He performs here with Freddie Hubbard and the Allyn Ferguson Big Band…

https://youtu.be/mXfbp3Jzg68

Sources:

Limonick, Marvin (23rd November 1921-16th December 1984)

Navigation