Richard Loring

b. 23 July 1917, Chicago, Illinois, USA, d. 28 August 2005, Los Angeles, California, USA. After completing his studies in Chicago and Cincinnati, Loring moved to New York where he joined NBC. Later, in Hollywood, he worked at several studios as both vocal coach and composer, among them Universal where a frequent collaborator was lyricist Diane Lampert. Films on which he worked included Hold Back The Dawn (1941, composing the title song), Hi, Good Lookin’! and Meet Miss Bobby Socks (both 1944), both of which featured his ‘Deacon Jones’, written with Johnny Lange and Hy Heath. Starring in the latter film was Bob Crosby; also featured was Louis Jordan, who recorded ‘Deacon Jones’. In 1957 Loring composed music for The Snow Queen, a live action-animated film made in Russia. In 1959 he worked on Operation Petticoat, The Wild And The Innocent and House On Haunted Hill, writing the theme for the latter. He also worked at Disney on Toby Tyler, Or Ten Weeks With A Circus (1960), composing the title song and ‘Biddle-Dee-Dee’. Loring’s television work included writing music for the series Rat Patrol (1966-68), as well as for one-off dramas. In the recording studios he was often brought in to assist with production matters, carrying out duties under this umbrella on a number of albums by Johnny Mathis. In the late 90s, Loring began producing shows for the Los Angeles HIV/AIDS organization STAGE (Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event). For STAGE, he was also involved in the production of a number of albums. Highly respected in the film and music communities, Loring was a member of several national bodies, including the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), the Dramatists Guild, the National Academy of Songwriters and the Songwriters Guild of America. Songs for which he composed the music with various lyricists include ‘Cry You Out Of My Heart’ (recorded by Ella Fitzgerald), ‘Don’t Let Me Dream’ (recorded by Gene Roland with Stan Kenton’s orchestra), ‘If I’d Only Known You Then’ (recorded by the Ink Spots), ‘When You’ve Laughed All Your Laughter’ and ‘Very Warm’ (both recorded by Vic Damone). The lyricist on the latter song, from 1959, was Rod McKuen. In 2005, although in his mid-eighties, Loring was still working, composing music for Cotton Tale, an animated film, and two musicals, Home Away From Home and Good House For A Killing. He passed away in August of that year.