t***@iwvisp.com
2006-11-22 21:20:15 UTC
John M. Blackburn, 93, of Newport died Nov. 15, 2006.
He was born Oct. 19, 1913 in Massilon, Ohio.
He was raised in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, in a
family that loved music and poetry. His mother, a Christian Science
reader, wrote music, and her two sisters were writers.
Blackburn traveled with a puppet theater that brought him to Vermont,
the state that inspired the lyrics he wrote for the popular song
"Moonlight in Vermont," with music composed by Karl Suessdorf. The song
was introduced by Margaret Whiting in 1944 and became her signature
tune.
He served as Western Reserve University Director at the Cleveland
Playhouse; and taught fellowship and in the drama department at
Bennington College in Bennington, Vt., for two years.
In the early 1940s, he moved to Southern California where he worked at
Lockheed. He and his first wife, a classically trained pianist, were
active participants in the Pasadena Playhouse. He was an actor and
director at the Pasadena Playhouse for three years.
After World War II, he and his wife established Selective Records,
recording and managing R&B musicians. Their independent label was the
first to record The Flames in 1949, but success was short-lived and by
1950 the label was defunct.
He worked for the space division at Rockwell International during the
Gemini and Apollo space shuttle years.
He retired in 1976. In retirement, he established the Downey Marionette
Theatre in conjunction with the Downey Theatre in Downey, Calif. He
also acted and directed for the stage at the Downey Theatre and the
Ana-Majeska Theatre in Anaheim, Calif., and was an active member of the
Downey Optimist Club.
While "Moonlight in Vermont" was his most recognized hit, "Need You,"
written in 1949 with Teepee Mitchell and Lou Porter, was recorded by Jo
Stafford and Gordon McRae. The song remained on the Billboard charts
for 13 weeks and peaked at number four and was picked up by several
country singers, including Sonny James and Slim Whitman.
In 1957, Oscar Peterson recorded Blackburn's "Susquehanna" which was
reissued in 2005 on the CD "Soft Sands."
John collaborated with Burt Carroll, Skip O'Donnell, and Dave Cole,
among countless others.
He settled in Lincoln County in the mid-1990s.
Survivors include his wife, Pricilla W. Blackburn of Newport; sons and
daughters-in-law, Jack Blackburn of Seattle, Wash., Rick and Jill
Blackburn of Leavenworth, Wash., and John and Cathy Wareham of Newport;
daughters and son-in-law, Emalee and Larry Whitish of Camptonville,
Calif., and Leslie Ohnstad; four grandchildren, Christopher Andrew
Blackburn, Kirsten Ann Blackburn, Johanna Haile, and Brandy Wareham;
and two great-grandchildren, Jillian Haile and Cassidy Haile.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Bateman Funeral
Home in Newport. The family suggests memorial contributions to a local
Optimist Club Childhood Cancer Campaign; the Pacific Communities Health
District Foundation, 930 SW Abbey_St., Newport Ore. 97365, or the
American Heart Association, Pacific Mountain Affiliate, 710 Second Ave
Suite 900,_Seattle, Wash. 98104.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Is it just me or do "Moonlight in Vermont" and Autumn in New York"
sound like different versions of the same song?
Ray Arthur
He was born Oct. 19, 1913 in Massilon, Ohio.
He was raised in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, in a
family that loved music and poetry. His mother, a Christian Science
reader, wrote music, and her two sisters were writers.
Blackburn traveled with a puppet theater that brought him to Vermont,
the state that inspired the lyrics he wrote for the popular song
"Moonlight in Vermont," with music composed by Karl Suessdorf. The song
was introduced by Margaret Whiting in 1944 and became her signature
tune.
He served as Western Reserve University Director at the Cleveland
Playhouse; and taught fellowship and in the drama department at
Bennington College in Bennington, Vt., for two years.
In the early 1940s, he moved to Southern California where he worked at
Lockheed. He and his first wife, a classically trained pianist, were
active participants in the Pasadena Playhouse. He was an actor and
director at the Pasadena Playhouse for three years.
After World War II, he and his wife established Selective Records,
recording and managing R&B musicians. Their independent label was the
first to record The Flames in 1949, but success was short-lived and by
1950 the label was defunct.
He worked for the space division at Rockwell International during the
Gemini and Apollo space shuttle years.
He retired in 1976. In retirement, he established the Downey Marionette
Theatre in conjunction with the Downey Theatre in Downey, Calif. He
also acted and directed for the stage at the Downey Theatre and the
Ana-Majeska Theatre in Anaheim, Calif., and was an active member of the
Downey Optimist Club.
While "Moonlight in Vermont" was his most recognized hit, "Need You,"
written in 1949 with Teepee Mitchell and Lou Porter, was recorded by Jo
Stafford and Gordon McRae. The song remained on the Billboard charts
for 13 weeks and peaked at number four and was picked up by several
country singers, including Sonny James and Slim Whitman.
In 1957, Oscar Peterson recorded Blackburn's "Susquehanna" which was
reissued in 2005 on the CD "Soft Sands."
John collaborated with Burt Carroll, Skip O'Donnell, and Dave Cole,
among countless others.
He settled in Lincoln County in the mid-1990s.
Survivors include his wife, Pricilla W. Blackburn of Newport; sons and
daughters-in-law, Jack Blackburn of Seattle, Wash., Rick and Jill
Blackburn of Leavenworth, Wash., and John and Cathy Wareham of Newport;
daughters and son-in-law, Emalee and Larry Whitish of Camptonville,
Calif., and Leslie Ohnstad; four grandchildren, Christopher Andrew
Blackburn, Kirsten Ann Blackburn, Johanna Haile, and Brandy Wareham;
and two great-grandchildren, Jillian Haile and Cassidy Haile.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Bateman Funeral
Home in Newport. The family suggests memorial contributions to a local
Optimist Club Childhood Cancer Campaign; the Pacific Communities Health
District Foundation, 930 SW Abbey_St., Newport Ore. 97365, or the
American Heart Association, Pacific Mountain Affiliate, 710 Second Ave
Suite 900,_Seattle, Wash. 98104.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Is it just me or do "Moonlight in Vermont" and Autumn in New York"
sound like different versions of the same song?
Ray Arthur