Ray Evans papers, circa 1921-2007.

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Evans, Ray, 1915-2007.

Contributor:

Evans, Wyn Ritchie.

Livingston, Jay, 1915-2001.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Motion picture music.

Popular music--20th century.

Popular music.

Popular music--Writing and publishing--20th century.

Popular music--Writing and publishing.

Genre:

Photographs.

Manuscripts, American.

Sheet music.

Sound recordings.

Awards.

Penn Provenance:

Donated by the Ray & Wyn Ritchie Evans Foundation, 2011.

Physical Description:

140 boxes

Place of Publication:

circa 1921-2007.

Biography/History:

Ray Evans was the lyricist of the songwriting team Livingston & Evans. They composed more than 700 songs, most of which were written for movies and TV shows. They won Oscars for the songs "Buttons and bows," "Mona Lisa," and "Que sera, sera." They also composed "Silver bells," as well as the theme songs for the television series Bonanza and Mr. Ed. Ray Evans was born and grew up in Salamanca, New York. In 1931 Evans enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business (W'36). His songwriting partner Jay Livingston entered the University one year later to study journalism (C'37). They met at the Beta Sigma Rho fraternity and at the University's college dance orchestra, "The Continentals." This orchestra was engaged by international cruise ships during vacation times. Evans played the clarinet and the saxophone; Livingston played the piano and conducted. They started improvising songs together. After graduating, Livingston and Evans continued their musical endeavors and aimed for a career as a songwriting team on New York's Tin Pan Alley. Their first success came with an audition for the comedians Olsen and Johnson in 1939. Livingston and Evans's song "G'Bye now," copyrighted in 1940, made it into the successful Broadway show Hellzapoppin'. The song became a hit in 1941 and proved to be the starting point of a successful songwriting career. Hollywood followed. After a temporary interruption due to the war, Livingston and Evans moved to Los Angeles in 1944. They signed a contract with Paramount Studios in 1945 and wrote songs for movies, such as To each his own ("To each his own," 1946), The paleface ("Buttons and bows," 1948), The lemon drop kid ("Silver bells," 1950), Captain Carey, U.S.A. ("Mona Lisa," 1950), and The man who knew too much ("Que sera, sera," 1956). They later worked for Universal Studios, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and Universal International. They also collaborated on two Broadway musicals, Oh, captain! and Let it ride!. Oh, captain! opened on Broadway on 4 February 1958, and closed after five months. Let it ride! opened October 1961 and closed after 68 performances in December of the same year. Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, who died in 2001, were a song-writing team for life. They continuously received honors and awards, among which were three Oscars and four more nominations for the Academy Award. About twenty-six of their songs sold over one million copies. Livingston and Evans were honored with the prestigious Aggie Award. Their song "Mona Lisa," as performed by Nat "King" Cole, was voted into The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. For "Silver bells" and "Mona Lisa" they received special awards by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Livingston and Evans each received a star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame. The Young Musicians Foundation presented them with "A Lifetime Achievement Award." Many more honors and awards were given to them, including the key to the city of Los Angeles. Evans married Wyn Ritchie, who worked in the film industry, acted, and was interested in the arts and in writing, in April 1947. Ray Evans died in Los Angeles in 2007.

Summary:

The papers mostly reflect Evans's professional life and comprise correspondence, sheet music, lyrics and scripts, press clippings, sound recordings, photographs, programs, photographs, awards, memorabilia, and some art work.

OCLC:

778356541

Online:

Unique at Penn blog post