Ray Hartley OAM (b.26th May 1925 - d.15th November 2014) was a world-class Australian pianist, composer, arranger and philanthropist. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his

fund-raising concerts in the U.S.A. and Australia, and performed at the Sydney Opera House in 1994.

The New Yorker magazine once described Ray Hartleys elegant piano style as being;

“like a good extra-brut Château Lafite, thoroughly refined and poetic, yet always effervescent.”

 

Early Life

Ray Hartley was born in 1925 in the small wheatbelt town of Kellerberrin 205 km's east of Perth, Western Australia. He received his first piano lessons there at the age of 7, an experience that was described many years later on the cover of his New York-produced record album;

“… an accomplished pianist from the down-under land of kangaroos and koala bears, ran away from music lessons when he was nine years old owing to an aversion to his fellow pupils … he was taking lessons in a girls' convent. But he was hauled back and in time passed all his music examinations with honors.”

By age 12 he began winning piano competitions, then made his ABC radio debut at 14.

 

Musical Career

In 1942 at the age of 17, following a move to capital city Perth, Ray Hartley had formed his own instrumental trio contracted to perform at the Esler-McMorrow dance studio and ballroom located in the Devon House building (built 1939) at 729 Hay Street. During this period he was also employed as a music programmer at the 6PM Radio station (opening in 1937 as one of only three public radio stations

in Perth) that gave him a first-hand insight into the popular music scene of the era.

 

Following military service in the Royal Australian Air Force, Ray Hartley moved to Sydney to continue

his classical music studies. Here he studied piano under the world-renowned teacher and musicologist Nancy Salas MBE (1910-1990) receiving his diploma at the Sydney Conservatory of Music. Nancy Salas was also born in Western Australia, in fact the gold-mining town of Coolgardie a further 355 km's inland from Kellerberrin, that added considerable warmth and understanding to their relationship.

 

London

In 1950 he went to London to enter studies at the Royal Academy of Music where he was taught by renowned pianist and composer Harold Craxton OBE (1885-1971). He was also taught by Margaret Hubicki MBE (1915-2006) composer and teacher who invented the Colour-Staff method for people with dyslexia. Margaret Hubicki was also prominent in the Council for Music in Hospitals (later Music in Hospitals and Care) that promoted the performance of live music as therapy in U.K. hospitals. This sparked Ray Hartleys interest in community welfare through music and its philanthropic enterprise to which he would become a staunch contributor.

In 1992 at the Wyalkatchem Town Hall (a small rural town adjacent to Kellerberrin) Ray Hartleys (now elderly) childhood friends Mill and Jim Davies were treated, during Seniors Week celebrations, to a free concert by a young Perth pianist and singer. The young man was travelling through the states regional areas on a solo concert tour performing to senior citizens in their communities, care facilities and hospitals. The couple introduced Ray Hartley whom the young musician visited in New York in 1994 and 1997 receiving his indelible mentorship and encouragement.

 

During his time in London Ray Hartley became a popular guest artist on British radio and despite the heights of classical music training, his impression of popular music came to the fore. In a collaboration with popular British artist Desmond O'Connor he penned the music to their first international hit song “Let's Do It Again” in 1950 published by the Cecil Lennox Inc. company. The song was made a successful hit for American singer Frankie Carle (1903-2001) as well as many others including Donald Peers, Sam Browne, Frank Baron & The Cherokeys, Guy Lombardo, Marie Benson, Margaret Whiting and The Chickasaws.

The Ray Hartley & Desmond O'Connor collaboration produced another hit song in 1950, “My Baby Told Me That She Loves Me” sung by Sam Browne and published by the Southern Music Publishing group in London and Sydney.

Ray Hartley also spent some time as musical director for U.K.'s wartime queen of song Vera Lynn (1917-2020) for whom he composed “Welcome Home”.

In addition to his piano and orchestral works, he accompanied and conducted for such performers as Terry-Thomas and singer Sam Browne on radio, television and concert tours. And, he performed for radio on the BBC, Radio Luxemborg and Australia's ABC.

In 1952 at the age of 27, Ray Hartley was honored to take part in a Royal Command Performance before Queen Elizabeth (in her first year in the Realm at age 26) and The Royal Family, at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

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Documentary Film

In 1951 Ray Hartley at age 26 was filmed in the offices of the Peter Maurice Publishing company in London. British Pathé films was producing a documentary regarding the 'Tin Pan Alley' music industry centered around London's Denmark Street.

Tall, young, handsome and perfectly groomed, he is playing the piano with Sam Browne singing a new song composed by himself with Sam and Jimmy Kennedy providing the lyrics. The song “Last Night's Kisses” clearly impressed Peter Maurice (standing beside them) so much that he called-in several other stars of the period to listen to them perform it again. During the brief break, Ray seems a little nervous, rubbing his sweaty hands. It is clear he is the novice amongst seasoned stars and businessmen; it must have been a frightening time surrounded by them passing judgement on his music, while being filmed. But for sure his playing was both technically perfect and fitting the style of the day; in reality, he was in London to study classical piano with Margaret Hubiki, so his composing and playing popular music was a way to supplement his finances.

Earlier in the same film, Vera Lynn sings a song in a rival publishing studio, two years prior to singing a hit song by Ray Hartley, “Welcome Home”. And, a very young Petula Clark is filmed rehearsing a new song with another pianist, and in the same year would sing a Ray Hartley / Ralph Ruvin hit song "Broken Heart" alongside singing star Jimmy Young.

These were the final years of greatness for Tin Pan Alley, before the onset of the rock-'n-roll and electronic eras. And despite a long list of compositions to his credit both in London and New York, Ray would never realize such hit songs again as he did in these few years in London; songs produced by the Tin Pan Alley publishers and sung by their stars such as Sam Browne, Margaret Whiting, Jimmy Young and Vera Lynn from 1950 to 1953. By the time he began to produce songs in New York, the music business and fashions had shifted away from classic-based melodies and poetic lyrics.

 

New York

Citing his early success in popular music composition and passion for the American Songbook repertoire, Ray Hartley ventured in 1953 to New York. But, unlike the U.K. where the Australian character was well known and accepted, the Big Apple was not so kind and easy. Unable to cement fixed employment, in order to gain extension toward a permanent working visa, he was forced to exit to Toronto in Canada. There he found regular employment selling radios in a department store until

he was cleared to re-enter the U.S.A.

Once back in New York however, he quickly became a sought-after audition pianist for Broadway musicals, and it was there that he caught the eye of a RCA Victor Records producer Eddie Heller.

Eddie Heller had also been a co-owner at Derby Records and founder of Rainbow Records, and hence brought to his relationship with Ray Hartley immense experience and connections. Ray Hartley was signed by him to a long-term contract with RCA Victor that included some of the best artistic collaborations New York had to offer. He had clearly been very impressed by the “good extra-brut Château Lafite”.

Ray Hartleys piano style would be a certain winner amongst the clamour of jazz pianists flooding the scene at the time, not to mention the unstoppable trends of key-hammering rock and roll pianists emerging from the shadows. His elegant, sophisticated, classic-based piano style filled a niche in the piano music market that had been depleted by the changing pop music trends including the advent of electronic instruments such as the electric organ and guitar. And it was not long before that was tested with spectacular results.

 

In the meantime, Ray Hartley had found regular work in New Yorks hospitality industry.

By 1957 he was resident pianist at the prestigious Forest Hills Inn in the borough of Queens. Here he quickly began to make connections to high society and lovers of semi-classical piano music who appreciated and even adored his style, interpretation and arrangements to become his loyal fans and supporters.

In 1957 a newspaper featured a photograph of Ray Hartley carrying a kangaroo. The photo caption, titled “Keyboard Specialist and Friend” inevitably drew on his Australian personality to foster a marketing angle to the wide-eyed American public in typically dry New York humor. It read;

“Ray Hartley, a new RCA Victor recording artist from Kellerberrin, Western Australia, recently returned from a visit to his native continent with this picture of one of his pet kangaroos. Hartley has resumed his piano playing at the Forest Hills Inn, Forest Hills, New York.”

 

Soon, he was contracted as resident pianist and leading performer at New York's finest supper clubs and hotels, a career that in itself would span almost thirty years. Ray Hartley was the pianist to be heard in the 1960's to 1980's as he romanced audiences at the Waldorf-Astoria's Peacock Alley, the Savoy Hilton, the Sheraton-East, the Carlton House, the St. Regis-Sheraton, the St. Moritz, and the Americana. And at the Helmsley Palace (now the Lotte New York Palace) at 455 Madison Avenue, he was a prized favorite and close friend of owners Harry and Leona Helmsley.

 

Ray Hartleys recording career with RCA Victor in New York began in earnest in 1958 with the production of a full-length album of 12 tracks titled “The Trembling of a Leaf and The Sound of The Sea”. On the album, Ray Hartley performs the very best of his famous elegant piano style and unique arrangements on 11 cover songs (by well-known American Songbook composers) and one original composition. “Dawning of Love” is an original song composed with renowned lyricist Jack Lawrence (1912-2009) with whom he would produce many other successful songs. The album was a great marketing success, due to it's title songs (placed as the first two tracks) and expertly depicted by the records 'instantly recognizable' cover design. The cover photograph was the work of Murray Laden who was known for his stunning depictions on the covers of many artists including Tito Puente, Lena Horne, George Shearing and Roy Orbison.

In fact, the photo received an explanatory note on the rear of the album sleeve;

“Should you look at the cover of this album and wonder what a musician in tails and a piano are doing on the beach of Long Island's Colony Club, put your mind at ease. It is only Ray listening to the sound of the sea and wondering what his pet wallaby is doing tonight.”

But of course the music was first-class and had a special uniqueness that captured the attention of piano music lovers worldwide. Ray Hartley was accompanied by a 20-piece orchestra arranged and conducted by David Terry, himself an RCA Victor recording artist.

The album was re-produced in several countries including a Spanish version as late as 1980 by RCA Victor Argentina “El Solo Pensar En Ti” (“I'm only thinking of you”).

In Australia a 45rpm-EP version was produced in 1958 called “The Trembling of a Leaf” that included just the first four tracks of the album (two-per-side).

Yet another version of the whole album was produced elsewhere in a minimalist package, as “Leisure Time” - Ray Hartley / David Terry and his Orchestra, drawing on the albums perfection as an 'easy listening' classic.

 

The RCA Victor 'machine' was now well in motion; the “Trembling Leaves” album was quickly followed

in the same year by a supporting 45rpm-Single. Once again under the skillful production of Eddie Heller, Ray Hartley was given the opportunity to introduce his audience to the harpsichord playing he had acquired in his conservatory days in Sydney. Once again with the accompinament of David Terry's orchestra, the single included one song on piano and the other on harpsichord. The piano song was “Beautiful Love” by successful songwriters Young, King and Van Alstyne, and the harpsichord song “Chanson D'Amour” (Song of Love) by Wayne Shanklin, both published by the Meadowlark Music company.

 

The following year 1959, a second RCA Victor long-play album was produced, this time with the orchestra of Don Walker (1907-1989). He was a prolific Broadway orchestrator and composer who also worked in television. The 12-track album was titled “for lovers - Ray Hartley, His Piano and Orchestra”. Once again, there were 11 songs by notable composers and another Jack Lawrence collaboration “Whispers in the Wind”. This time the cover artwork depicts a young couple in a romantic pose in a park, with a right-hand profile of Ray Hartley at the grand piano in the foreground. His hands are blurred in-flight and the record company's label directs the musical genre as 'Romantic Piano'. On the rear of the album cover he dedicates the music to his friends back in Australia and closes with his signature.

 

As had been done with his previous album, a EP-single followed using one song from the album and one new song. Side 1 played the song “I Remember It Well” (Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe) from the 1958 Vincente Minnelli film “Gigi”. Side 2 played "Beyond The Purple Hills” by Nick and Charles Kenny. The single was titled “The Romantic Piano of Ray Hartley - Don Walker and Orchestra”.

 

Yet another interesting version of Ray Hartleys recordings was a single produced by the Victor Records company in Japan. Side A played “Beyond The Purple Hills” (the B-Side of his second U.S. Single) and

Side B played “Beautiful Love” (the first track from Side B of his first album). The accompaniments are therefore the orchestras of David Terry followed by that of Don Walker. The album cover vividly captures the essence of both songs in distinct Japanese traditional art style. The titles are printed boldly in English translated with literal Japanese subtitles below them.

 

Apart from his primary songwriting partnership with Jack Lawrence, Ray Hartley created several compositions with Jacques Segasture who was able to lyricize in both Spanish and Portuguese.

In 1959 he penned both music and words for “When I Become A Man”. The song, to be sung by a boy, was chosen by Jay North for his album recorded the same year 'Look Who's Singing'. Jay had already claimed great fame playing the lead character in the CBS TV sitcom 'Dennis The Menace'.

He also composed the score for the TV Musical Special “Portobello” that was co-authored with Hollywood and TV screenwriter Blanche Hanalis (1915-1992) of “Little House on the Prairie” fame. Ray Hartleys song “Peanut Butter and Jelly Time” is featured in the score of the Seth MacFarlane hit U.S. TV animation series “Family Guy” (1999-).

 

Ray Hartley lived in a comfortable, yet relatively modest apartment in central Manhattan's Kips Bay district, and often recalled that proceeds from tips received at the luxury hotels in which he performed

in New York, allowed him to buy the stately grand piano that dominated his living room.

 

In 1961, while on a visit to Sydney, Ray Hartley was photographed with long-time Perth friend and renowned Australian actor James Condon (1923-2014) brother of actress / producer Coralie Condon OAM (1914-2014). He was appearing on Condon's TV variety show 'What's Next' to discuss his successes overseas and promote his new recordings.

In 2014, Ray Hartley passed away peacefully in New York, nine months after James Condon in Sydney and one month prior to James' sister Coralie Condon in Perth.

Ray Hartley's orbituary was published in the New York Times' Legacy website and a memorial celebration held in New York in April 2015.

 

Philanthropy and Honors

In 1994, Ray Hartley performed a concert at the Sydney Opera House that helped raise initial funds to build Australia's first children's hospice, Bear Cottage in Manly (2001). However, the event was simply

one of many opportunities he had grasped during his music career to advance the cause of charity and philanthropy. In 'retirement' Ray Hartley was forever busy giving concerts, event performances and making appearances in the name of charities particularly in New York and the eastern seaboard of the U.S.A. Later in his life he was very successfully treated for a non-cancerous melanoma at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital, then followed-up with a benefit concert at the institution. Apart from his staunch membership of New York's Musicians' Union and ASCAP, he was a longtime member and past board member of the American Australian Association. Ray Hartley was honored with their prestigious Terry Magill Award and Medal of the Order of Australia (26 January 2004) – Citation: “For service to the Australian community in New York and to charitable groups in Australia as a concert pianist.”

His fund-raising concerts in the United States and Australia included the American Red Cross, the American Theater Wing, NYC's National Arts Club, hospitals and other philanthropies.