Henri René

Henri René ( born December 29, 1906 in New York City as Harald Manfred Kirchstein, † April 25, 1993 in Houston ) was an American jazz and entertainment musician ( banjo, guitar, piano, arrangement, composition, orchestral conducting ) and music producer.

Life and work

René, whose parents were German and Polish origin, studied at the Academy of Music in Berlin, and then to work in American dance orchestras. In 1926, he headed an American dance band on tour in Europe and then remained in Berlin, where he cooperated with sound film and recordings, for example Arthur Briggs and Dajos Béla before he became known as a composer and arranger. In 1934, he was - even as Harald Kirchstein - with Willi Stech the founder and first the driving force of the Golden Seven. He also wrote the music for the propaganda film people without a country. Despite effusive reviews in the press it was because of his Jewish-sounding name, and because he could not submit a " proof of Aryan " brought down. In 1937 he returned to the Unite States, where he was a producer on Victor Records soon. In 1941, he led a Musette Orchestra, with whom he recorded numerous albums. After military service he was again working for Victor in 1946; he accompanied soloists with studio bands and recorded on numerous recordings with jazz, easy listening, musicals and pop music. Among other things, he worked with Harry Belafonte ( Calypso ), Perry Como, Maurice Chevalier, Ella Fitzgerald ( Hello Dolly ), Eartha Kitt, Connie Francis, Al Hirt or Dinah Shore. Then Henri René was on the American west coast of Artists and Repertoire Manager of Victor. In 1959, he settled in San Francisco. Among other things, he composed a California Suite. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Disco Graphical Notes

  • Compulsion to Swing (RCA)
  • Riot in Rhythm (RCA)
  • White Heat (Imperial )
  • The Swinging '59 (Imperial )

Lexical entries

  • Jürgen Wölfer Jazz in Germany - The lexicon. All musicians and record companies from 1920 to today. Hannibal Verlag yards in 2008, ISBN 978-3-85445-274-4
Arthur Briggs (musician) Aryan certificate Victor Talking Machine Company Bal-musette Integrated Authority File
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