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Tref
10-03-2007, 10:14 PM
From the L.A. Times

Randy Van Horne, whose Randy Van Horne Singers performed the theme songs for "The Flintstones," "The Jetsons," "The Huckleberry Hound Show" and several other popular television cartoons of the 1960s, has died. He was 83.

To read article, click here (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-vanhorne3oct03,1,6357412.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california)

From Spaceagepop.com

... Van Horne ... assembled a regular ensemble from among the session vocalists he worked with, and this group was signed to RCA Victor (and later, MGM) as the Randy Van Horne Singers. The group included perhaps the most famous session singer of all ... Marni Nixon, as well as Thurl Ravenscroft (the voice of Tony the Tiger), B.J. Baker, and Bob Zwern.

Esquivel was only one of dozens of arrangers to use Van Horne's singers. They sang the jazzy vocals on Bob Thompson great RCA albums, did their best to imitate African chants on Martin Denny's Afrodesia album, and recorded other cartoon show themes such as "The Jetsons." They also worked with ad men like Hugh Heller, and Van Horne kept his own composition skills in tune by writing jingles himself. On rare occasions, the group appeared live, usually a part of variety revues in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

To read article, click here (http://www.spaceagepop.com/vanhorne.htm)

Randy Van Horne
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z1/Tref_foto/RVH.jpg
"Huzzah."

RStar
10-04-2007, 07:20 AM
It's amazing how you don't ever hear about these people until they die. And then you realize you will miss them. Randy was an important part of our culture when I was growing up, and I didn't even know it.

Good work Randy. You will be missed.

Cadaverous Pallor
10-04-2007, 07:34 AM
When you think of a pop culture milestone like the Flintstones, sometimes it's hard to remember that it wasn't all Mr. Hanna and Mr. Barbara. I can't even imagine being close enough to say "it was my singing group that sang this iconic song."

Snowflake
10-04-2007, 07:49 AM
Randy I didn't know you, but I can say I loved your work! RIP

I've just sat at my desk and sung along with this (http://www.televisiontunes.com/player.php?song=Jetsons.mp3)and will probably have it playing in my head for the rest of the day.

Need a TV theme song? Go here (http://www.televisiontunes.com/browse.html)

ozron
10-04-2007, 08:11 AM
I loved this man's work!! Saturday morning cartoons were our introduction to real, honest-to-God, straight ahead jazz, and we didn't even realize it!

In high school, when vocal jazz was huge, there was an arrangement of the Flintstones that everyone did. The same arrangement was re-set for vocal jazz ensemble, stage band, even drum and bugle corps.

My personal favorite, though, was Top Cat. Not only great theme music, but TC taught the post-rat pack generation what is meant to be hip.

ron