European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 31, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse The s wonderful life of Ray Conniff to was Midnight and the Frankfurt a International Airport usually one of the busiest spots in Europe was dimly it and nearly deserted. Four pint sized German Sisters ajl wearing Long blonde hair Blue pants suits and ruffled blouses bounced from reporter to photographer now talking in German now in English about heir International adventures As entertainers. A Black poodle dog slipped out the in door and cried because he could t get Back in until one of his blonde mis tresses retrieved him. An Odd collection of reporters photog Raphers promoters and airline officials. Paced the floor some carrying bouquets some nursing drinks others just stand ing and staring Ray Conniff noted american choral and orchestral Arranger walked in and to happen. The Sisters bearing Bright Orange Welcome to Germany banners kissed we on the Cheek. How do you do mister Ray chirp Cid one sister shoving a huge bouquet of carnations under disarm. Cameras flashed reporters 11 e notes promoters beamed and Conniff chewing gum and wearing a Light woo suit smiled unperturbed. We Are the Jacob Sisters and Wesing and dance and play instruments. We just got Back from Las vegas said one of the blondes breathless As she clutched his . By Mary Ann Reese staff writer the Black poodle barked and nibbled at Conniffe shoe. The press corps had been informed earlier the dog and fou White poodles had been especially trained by the Sisters As part of their act what kind of music do you sing modern asked Conniff seeming oblivious to the confusion. Of yes assured another sister snuggling up to his other and Bai Ting her thick Twiggy eyelashes at you might have some new idea for us she beamed. As if to prove indeed talented the Sisters broke into a Little soft shoe dance and harmonized in the e i rest English ". You re just too Good to be True. Can t take Rhy eyes off of you. In the Small carpeted vip lounge one reporter asked Conniff if he Ever got tired of his music "1 mean you sound Conniff allowed As How he was quit satisfied with his sound. He explained he was in Germany to audition a choral and orchestral group in Munich and decide if he will make television show for a German to net work. The arrangements would be con Niff a and the words if he used words instead of his unique instrumental sound for voices in English. His sound is very big in Germany explained Bernhard Mikulski president of the recording company handling con Niff in Germany. For one thing his sound is Happy and easy for listening. For another you Don t have the language Barrier when houses voices Conniff pulled on his greying sideburns ordered a soft drink aired his German Aber Nicht spirits bit the and praised the new sound i music. Contemporary music today is undergoing the most Radical and exciting change i have witnessed in the entire 25 years i have been associated wit the recording Industry new chord structures new melodies new , who has made 35 Long playing discs since a wonderful made the Money charts in 1955 and who has sold More than 15 million records says his sound too has changed. But it has been so gradual from record to record som people Don t realize for his latest album he has drawn on contemporary composers up Upland away yesterday something stupid and Don t sleep in the the music business is like people said Conniff sipping his soft drink. It changes every Uay. And if you Don keep up with it you Are How do you feel about soul an blues quizzed one reporter what is that asked Conniff. Can you define them you know. Like the sounds of Jimmy Smith James Brown aretha Franklin explained someone from tieback. I m afraid i m not familiar wit them he apologized. I Conniff said he first got the idea for using voices instrumentally while working with musicians like Artie Shaw. Sometimes on Road trips we would sing our new arrangements using syllables rather than words. I liked that sound. The first time i actually used that technique in a record was As Back ground for Don Cherry s band of Gold at that time Mitch Miller was the a and r Man artists and repertoire for the recording company. He came running out of the studio and said that s a great sound. Let s do an up that s How it in t sure it is Wise to make recordings in a foreign country. My albums already Are doing very Well in Germany he Only other time he has worked with foreign musicians was in used my arrangements with Span ish lyrics. It went Fine but if i make recordings in a foreign country again i would rather arrange songs of that country. People like to hear songs of their own it was nearly 1 . And reporters began Drifting away. One sister told him How Clever he was to speak German and asked for an offered to show him their publicity pictures from Las vegas. The were posed shots with Dean Martin Louis Armstrong or Sammy Davis May make a movie with Peter Sellers said still another. That would be Good because he in t so tall and he s very funny and we Are very funny. He would be trying to go with this one girl and every time they went somewhere one of us would be Only the Black dog was asleep under chair. Is photos by Scott Gates contemporary music is undergoing the most Radical change in 25 years says choral director Ray Conniff. The four blonde Jacob Sisters sing dance and bring poodles to Greet incoming celebrities. May 31, the stars and stripes fag. U
