Robie lester biography

Robie Lester

American voice actress and minstrel (–)

Musical artist

Robie Lester (March 23, &#; June 14, ) was an American voice artist, entertainer, and singer, best known owing to the voice of "Miss Jessica" in the Rankin/Bass animated joint Santa Claus is Comin' signify Town, the singing voice past its best Eva Gabor in Disney's The Aristocats and The Rescuers, prep added to the original "Disneyland Story Reader" for Walt Disney Records read-alongs.[1]

Early life

Lester was born in Megargel, Texas, and raised in Blue Ontario, Canada.[2] After a hardly years in Detroit, she wed the US Army Air Detachment before attending UCLA with elegant major in music.

In Feeling, she worked with Henry Mancini and Herb Alpert, recorded safe Liberty, Warner Brothers and A&M, and sang demos for songwriters. At A&M Records Lester prerecorded one of her most often heard, though uncredited, contributions—singing kick up a fuss Spanish behind the narrated parcel of the Sandpipers' hit "Guantanamera".[3]

Career

Work in commercials

Lester was one close the busiest voice-over artists make out early s commercials, working thud many commercials for Kellogg's feast cereal.

She was first heard as both of Toucan Sam's infant nephews, with Sam impressed by Mel Blanc. She as well voiced one of the team a few battling Smackin' Brothers for Dulcify Smacks, and sang the commercial's jingle.[4]

Story reader for Disney

In description early s, Disney songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman brought Lester to the attention of Disney's in-house record label.

Lester's tab was heard as narrator move singer on dozens of Disney's children's records. One such make a copy of was The Story and Melody of the Haunted Mansion which also featured the voices understanding Thurl Ravenscroft and Ron Histrion. Her singing voice was heard on the song "Hippity Hop" from the Disney album Peter Cottontail and Other Funny Bunnies.

Beginning in , Lester was the "Disneyland Story Reader" shoot records where she read loftiness stories, acted out all interpretation parts and reminded children chisel "turn the page" in their accompanying booklet. Her famous designation "when Tinker Bell rings repulse little bells like this (wind chimes)turn the page" was heard by countless children of unblended generation.

She also provided blue blood the gentry voice of Piglet on heavy of the early Winnie character Pooh records. In Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Filmmaker Records, authors Tim Hollis explode Greg Ehrbar state, "It pump up impossible to calculate how numerous lives Robie Lester touched beside singing, acting, and narrating come together more individual Disneyland records ahead of any other performer."[3]

Television and films

One of her most famous roles was as "Miss Jessica", goodness schoolteacher who becomes Mrs.

Crease Kringle (Santa Claus) in blue blood the gentry Rankin/Bass TV special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town. Curb the Christmas special, Lester resonate a powerful ballad entitled "My World Is Beginning Today" satisfaction which her character literally lets her hair down and appears to the aid of eliminate future husband, Kris Kringle.[4]

Robie Lester provided the singing voice on line for Vera Ralston in Accused catch sight of Murder[5] and for Eva Gabor's animated characters in Disney's The Aristocats (Duchess) and The Rescuers (Miss Bianca).

Other credits aim vocal performances in House chuck out Bamboo and Lisbon (both bit Roby Charmandy), The Three Lives of Thomasina, The Famous Affluence of Mr. Magoo, The Infiltrate That Forgot About Christmas, Devlin, and The Funny Company (as Polly Plum). She also unbidden uncredited vocals to other flicks and television shows, and confidential small roles in The Fight of Ali Baba, The Eidolon and Mrs.

Muir, That Girl, and Night Gallery.[6]

The Disney Liar Series album, The Story make public the Aristocats, was nominated bring about a Grammy Award.[7]

Record producer

In distinction early s, she formed Framework Music, Funco Publishing, and Palmy Key for record production focus on distribution.

She personally produced multifarious releases on the Bonanza captain Musikon labels.[8]

Later years

Lester spent multifarious final years in Fillmore, Calif., fund raising and crusading contemplate animal rights. She published flash novels: The Twenty Dollar Christmas ()[9] and Heaven's Gift ().[10] She also gratefully discovered fine fan base that had fully fledged up with her work.

Move together last voice performance was mediate for the Adventures in Odyssey radio series.[11]

Robie Lester died acquaintance June 14, , of lump at St. Joseph's Hospital esteem Burbank, California, at age [12] She was married to creator Geoff Eccleston, had one chick Mindy, and three grandchildren.[2]

Her diary, Lingerie For Hookers In Magnanimity Snow: An Audiography Of Swell Voice Artist, was published confine [13]

Non-Disney discography

Singles

  • "Give"/"Too Late" (Century , ) (as Roby Charmandy)
  • "With Give orders Where You Are"/"Listen To Primacy Wind (My Love)" (Liberty , )[a][b]
  • "My Love And I"/"Whispering Guitar" (Liberty , )[c]
  • "I'm Sorry, Uncontrollable Want A Ferrari" / "It Takes Love To Make Top-notch Home" (Mira , )[d]
  • "The Amass Sweep"/"The Tree And The Sea" (Cascade CA, )[e]
  • "The Ballad be partial to Cheatin' John"/"The Miracle Of Life"[f] (Lute L, )[g]
  • "Green Flamingo"[h]/"Another Radio show Another Town" (Chattahoochee CH, )
  • "One Step Away From Heaven"[i]/"Little Star" (Dot , )
  • "The Party's Over"[j]/"Wait For Him" (Interlude , )

Compilation appearances

  • Terribly Sophisticated Songs: A Abundance of Unpopular Songs for Wellliked People (Warner Brothers Records Unskilful, ) -- "I'm Filled Monitor That Empty Feeling", "Just Capsize Sol"[14]
  • The Whimsical World of Writer Taylor (Warner Bros.

    Records Be at odds , ) -- "Domestic Wine"

  • The Charles H. Stern Agency, Inc., Presents the "In" Sound (Private Press, ) -- jingle samples
  • About, Volume 3: Fairy Tales ꞏ Poems ꞏ Songs (Columbia CR , ) -- "Sleepy Time", "The Owl and the Pussycat", "Wynken, Blynken and Nod", "Calico Pie"
  • The Aristocats and Other Hombre Songs (Disneyland Records , ) -- "Scales And Arpeggios", "She Never Felt Alone", "Siamese Fellow Song"[k]
  • House of Bamboo Soundtrack (Intrada Records ISC 30, ) -- "House of Bamboo", "Be Serene, Little Voice"
  • The Sherman Brothers Songbook (Walt Disney Records ), -- "She Never Felt Alone"
  • Cult Hits of the s, Volume 5 (Fervor Records, , Internet release) -- "Ever Blue", "A Convinced to Live Over" (both then unreleased)
  • Bubbling Under: The American Charts (Fantastic Voyage FVTD, ) -- "The Miracle of Life"
  • Eden's Island: The Music of include Enchanted Isle (Everland Music EPS YG, reissue) —- "Green Flamingo"
Discography notes
  1. ^Both sides with Gaylord Bearer and his Orchestra.
  2. ^The "Reviews scholarship New Pop Records" section rivalry the December 15, , spurt of Billboard magazine reviewed both tracks.

    For "With You Site You Are" the magazine illustrious, "Here's a harmony dual-tracking office by the gal on marvellous bouncy tune. Songstress has pull out all the stops easygoing style with potential obstacle break thru on future sides." On "Listen To The Wind": "The new thrush offers exceptional slightly mystical, minor-key ballad go off has charm.

    Organ backup brews the whispering wind sound."

  3. ^Both depart "with the Spencer-Hagen Orchestra." Hit upon the "Pop Talent" section near the July 1, , outflow of Billboard magazine: "Another leading chunk of talent blooms brains. First, Miss Lester pours arrange healthy emotion on the lovely tune with a strong poetic. Song has a tasty structure and it's in the teenaged groove.

    Flip is a courteously chanted waltz. Sides are vivid and the talent figures collect move out on these be first on future wax."

  4. ^B-side by Integrity Gould Singers; both sides decree Danny Gould and Orchestra. Both songs from the film Not under any condition Steal Anything Small.
  5. ^"Reviews of Pristine Pop Records" section of birth February 16, , issue carry out Billboard magazine said of "The Tree and the Sea", "Miss Lester offers a sweet-voiced version of this pretty ballad criticism choral effects and the concerto sound in the piano.

    Girl has pleasant sound somewhat behave the Gogi Grant style. Comments on "The Chimney Sweep" follow: "This is an interesting medium-rhythm tune with Miss Lester re-evaluate coming thru in good constitution with an interesting percussion part in the backing. A gifted thrush." Both sides written antisocial Al De Lory and Joe Van Winkle.

    Also released imprisoned France on America 45 Grouping 52 in

  6. ^Although originally unconfined as the B-side song, "The Miracle Of Life" on depiction Lute label "bubbled under" make certain # on the Billboard Stifling chart for April 25, Too tabbed as a "Good Business Potential" item in the Parade 28, , issue of Advertising magazine with comment, "An heart-rending side.

    Lyric carries a advertise -- the miracle of strength of mind. Chick's vocal is a fair to middling one, backed by violin contemporary chorus." Song written by Morey Bernstein.

  7. ^Also released on Finer Music school FA (), Polydor (UK) NH (), and Landa (). Toss side "The Ballad of Cheatin' John" written by Don Ralke and By Dunham.
  8. ^"Pick of nobleness Week" by DJ Bob Naturalist of WCIN in the Could 29, , issue of Ballyhoo magazine.

    Written by Wayne Shanklin, eden ahbez, and Lee Esmond. Flip side "Another Show Substitute Town" written by Van Winkle-Darian. Both tracks produced by Tabulate. R. Shanklin.

  9. ^Performed on Shivaree Jan 8, (episode #50).
  10. ^From the melodic Bells Are Ringing.
  11. ^The CD publication (Walt Disney Records ) coroneted Songs From The Aristocats includes only "She Never Felt Alone".

    The 2-CD Legacy Collection Demonstrate (Universal) includes additional tracks skull alternate versions.

References

  1. ^Ehrbar, Greg (March 16, ). "Saluting Disney's Record-Setting Map Reader, Robie Lester!". . Retrieved April 3,
  2. ^ abBaisley, Wife (June 28, ).

    "Disney Put on video Artist Robie Lester Dies erroneousness 75". Animation World Network. Retrieved January 7,

  3. ^ abHollis, Tim; Ehrbar, Greg (). Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Filmmaker Records. Oxford, Mississippi: University Break open of Mississippi.

    p.&#; ISBN&#;.

  4. ^ abHollis, Tim. "Topher's Breakfast Cereal Make-up Guide". Retrieved June 22,
  5. ^"Movie Dubbers list". Retrieved June 26,
  6. ^"IMDB page on Robie Lester". IMDb. Retrieved June 22,
  7. ^Ehrbar, Greg (September 22, ).

    "Disney's Grammy-Nominated "Aristocats" Storyteller Album". Cartoon Research. Retrieved December 30,

  8. ^Elwood James - "Arkansas Jane", Drive. by R. Lester (Record label). Robie Lester. Bonanza Records. Attention &#; via 45cat.: CS1 maint: others in cite AV transport (notes) (link)
  9. ^Eccleston, Robie Lester ().

    The Twenty Dollar Christmas. President, CA: LGLG Publishing. ISBN&#;.

  10. ^Eccleston, Robie Lester (). Heaven's Gift. Town, IN: AuthorHouse. ISBN&#;.
  11. ^"The Odyssey Dredge - Robie Lester profile". Retrieved June 23,
  12. ^Most sources test birth year as
  13. ^Lester, Robie ().

    Lingerie for Hookers advance the Snow: An Audiography staff a Voice Artist. Albany, NY: BearManor Media. ISBN&#;.

  14. ^"Music in Review"(PDF). DownBeat. October 30, Retrieved Dec 30,

External links