t***@iwvisp.com
2010-01-17 00:26:54 UTC
Chilton Searcy Price, who wrote the classic 1950s love song “You
Belong To Me,” died Thursday at home in eastern Louisville. She was
96.
She had continued to write songs until several months ago and was
honored with the Kentucky’s Governor’s Award in the Arts for
“Lifetime
Achievement” in 2009.
Price studied music at the University of Louisville during the 1930s
and was a violinist with the Louisville Orchestra in her early life.
She was working as a music librarian at Louisville radio station WAVE
during the 1940s, writing songs as a hobby, when she was discovered
by
Louisville band leader Pee Wee King and his partner Redd Stewart.
With help from the two musicians, Price was able to interest
recording
companies in “You Belong to Me” and “Slow Poke,” each of which were
chart toppers. Singer Jo Stafford’s recording of “You Belong To Me”
was No. 1 in both the U.S. and Great Britain in 1952.
The song was later recorded by a host of other artists, including
Tony
Bennett, Bob Dylan, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka, Dean Martin, Ella
Fitzgerald, Joni James, The Duprees, and more recently, Tori Amos. It
became part of the soundtracks of the motion pictures “Forbidden,”
“Shrek,” “Mona Lisa Smile,” and was used in various television
series.
Price wrote the song “Never Look Back” for Doris Day in the M-G-M
film, “Love Me or Leave Me”, and was a writer for orchestra leader
Mitch Miller.
In recent years she teamed with Louisville singer Kenny Ray to
produce
CDs of several of her later works, which many of her fans believe are
among her best.
One of her last compositions was “If I Never See You Again,” which
ends with the line, “I’ll always be there in a song.”
Price’s husband of 65-years, Robert L. Price, died in 2000. Survivors
include a daughter, Terrie Yaste (Jack) of Louisville, two
granddaughters, Lee Yaste and Cathy Chilton Davis, seven great-
grandchildren, and one sister, Frances Wheatley of Louisville.
At her request there will be a family-only memorial observance at a
future date. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Society for
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or to Kosair Charities.
Ray Arthur
Belong To Me,” died Thursday at home in eastern Louisville. She was
96.
She had continued to write songs until several months ago and was
honored with the Kentucky’s Governor’s Award in the Arts for
“Lifetime
Achievement” in 2009.
Price studied music at the University of Louisville during the 1930s
and was a violinist with the Louisville Orchestra in her early life.
She was working as a music librarian at Louisville radio station WAVE
during the 1940s, writing songs as a hobby, when she was discovered
by
Louisville band leader Pee Wee King and his partner Redd Stewart.
With help from the two musicians, Price was able to interest
recording
companies in “You Belong to Me” and “Slow Poke,” each of which were
chart toppers. Singer Jo Stafford’s recording of “You Belong To Me”
was No. 1 in both the U.S. and Great Britain in 1952.
The song was later recorded by a host of other artists, including
Tony
Bennett, Bob Dylan, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka, Dean Martin, Ella
Fitzgerald, Joni James, The Duprees, and more recently, Tori Amos. It
became part of the soundtracks of the motion pictures “Forbidden,”
“Shrek,” “Mona Lisa Smile,” and was used in various television
series.
Price wrote the song “Never Look Back” for Doris Day in the M-G-M
film, “Love Me or Leave Me”, and was a writer for orchestra leader
Mitch Miller.
In recent years she teamed with Louisville singer Kenny Ray to
produce
CDs of several of her later works, which many of her fans believe are
among her best.
One of her last compositions was “If I Never See You Again,” which
ends with the line, “I’ll always be there in a song.”
Price’s husband of 65-years, Robert L. Price, died in 2000. Survivors
include a daughter, Terrie Yaste (Jack) of Louisville, two
granddaughters, Lee Yaste and Cathy Chilton Davis, seven great-
grandchildren, and one sister, Frances Wheatley of Louisville.
At her request there will be a family-only memorial observance at a
future date. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Society for
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or to Kosair Charities.
Ray Arthur