A multi-talented studio arranger, producer, songwriter, conductor, and musical director who scored a Top Ten hit in 1965 with an instrumental rendition of the Hans Engelmann-penned "Melody of Love," David Carroll was born in Taylorville, Illinois in 1913. Carroll released a well-received string of orchestral/easy listening dance LPs during the '50s and '60s, most of which featured his own compositions -- a young Quincy Jones also contributed some tunes as well. As the musical director for Mercury Records during that time, he played on a bevy of Top 40 hits, including the Crew Cuts' "Sh-Boom" and Rusty Draper's "Shifting, Whispering Sands." When his tenure with Mercury was up, Carroll joined the Smothers Brothers and served as the bandleader for the duo's road show band. Carroll passed away in San Jose, California in 2008 at the age of 94. ~ James Christopher Monger