Ernie Freeman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ernie Freeman
Freeman in 1975
Background information
Birth name	Ernest Aaron Freeman Jr.
Born	(1922-08-16)August 16, 1922 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	May 16, 1981(1981-05-16) (aged 58) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop, rhythm and blues, jazz, orchestral
Occupation(s)	Pianist, arranger, bandleader
Instruments	Piano, organ
Years active	1935-1970s

Ernest Aaron Freeman (born August 16, 1922 – died May 16, 1981) was an American musician. He was a talented pianist, organist, and bandleader. He was also a great arranger, which means he helped create the musical parts for many instruments in a song. Ernie Freeman helped make many popular rhythm and blues and pop songs from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Early Life and Family

Ernie Freeman was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents were Ernest Freeman Sr. and Gertrude Freeman. He had a brother named Art, who also worked in music. Art sometimes worked with Ernie on songs. Ernie's wife was Isabelle Freeman, and she also helped him with some of his music. Ernie and Isabelle had a daughter named Janis.

Music Career

Ernie started playing music in clubs in Cleveland in 1935. He also formed a classical music group with his father and sister, Evelyn. Around 1939, Ernie and Evelyn started a new band called The Evelyn Freeman Swing Band. They played at the Circle Ballroom in Cleveland. Their shows were even broadcast on the radio station WHK.

In 1942, most of the band members, except Evelyn, joined the U.S. Navy. They became the first all-Black Navy Band, called The Gobs of Swing. Ernie was the leader of this band.

After leaving the Navy in 1945, Ernie went to the Cleveland Institute of Music. He earned a bachelor's degree there. In 1946, he moved to Los Angeles with his family. He studied at the University of Southern California and earned a master's degree in music composition.

In Los Angeles, Ernie played piano in clubs. He played with famous singers like Dinah Washington and Dorothy Dandridge. He also started recording his own music for the Mambo record label. After working as an arranger for Woody Herman, he joined the Ernie Fields Orchestra as a pianist. Other musicians in this band included Plas Johnson and Earl Palmer.

In 1954, Ernie formed his own band with Plas Johnson, Earl Palmer, and Irving Ashby. Their first record was "No No Baby" in 1955. They also recorded with a singing group called the Voices.

Becoming a Session Musician

Ernie Freeman played piano on many early rock and R&B recording sessions in Los Angeles during the 1950s. He worked for record labels like Specialty, Modern, and Aladdin. He also played for white artists such as Duane Eddy and Bobby Vee.

In 1955, he played piano on the Platters' hit song "The Great Pretender". Ernie also began releasing his own instrumental records. His song "Jivin' Around" reached number 5 on the R&B chart in 1956. That same year, the Ernie Freeman Combo and the Platters appeared in the movie Rock Around The Clock.

Ernie signed with Imperial Records in 1956. He released many singles and albums with them. His first single for Imperial, "Lost Dreams," reached number 7 on the R&B chart. His most successful solo song was "Raunchy" in 1957. It reached number 4 on the pop chart and number 1 on the R&B chart! In 1958, his version of "Indian Love Call" also made it onto the Billboard pop chart.

Later Career and Collaborations

In 1958, Ernie Freeman and the Ernie Fields Orchestra became the house band for a new record label called Rendezvous. In 1961, Ernie played piano on the hit song "Bumble Boogie" by B. Bumble and the Stingers. He also helped create "Percolator (Twist)," which became a big hit in 1962. Ernie also worked with groups like the Routers and the Marketts.

Throughout the 1960s, Ernie continued to be a very busy session musician. This means he played on many other artists' recordings. He arranged music for famous singers like Frank Sinatra (on songs like "That's Life" and "Strangers in the Night"), Dean Martin ("Everybody Loves Somebody"), and Petula Clark. He became a musical director for Reprise Records.

From 1960 to 1969, Ernie arranged almost every recording session for Snuff Garrett at Liberty Records. He worked with artists like Julie London and Bobby Vee. He also arranged a series of instrumental albums called "The 50 Guitars of Tommy Garrett," which featured many top Los Angeles musicians. Ernie also wrote music for several movies, including The Cool Ones (1967) and Duffy (1968).

In 1970, Ernie Freeman helped with the string arrangements for Simon & Garfunkel's famous album Bridge Over Troubled Water. He retired later in the 1970s. In 1964, he was a board member and secretary for the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, which gives out the Grammy Awards.

Ernie Freeman passed away in 1981 in Los Angeles from a heart attack. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

Awards

Ernie Freeman won two Grammy Awards for his amazing arrangements:

• For Frank Sinatra's "Strangers in the Night" (1966)
• For Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (1970)

Selected Discography

Ernie Freeman released many singles and albums throughout his career. Here are some of his notable works:

Hit Singles (as named performer)

Selected Albums (as lead musician)

• Plays Irving Berlin (1956)
• Jivin' O Round (1957)
• Raunchy (1957)
• Theme from The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960)
• Twistin' Time (1962)
• Ernie Freeman at the Organ (1963)
• Hit Maker (1967)