Sid Feller

Best known as the ABC Records' staff arranger and conductor responsible for Ray Charles' classic LPs of the early 1960s, Sid Feller was born December 24, 1916 in New York City. After learning to play trumpet while a member of Boy Scouts, Feller later performed as a member of Jack Teagarden's big band before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war he signed on with the Carmen Cavallaro band before joining the staff of Capitol Records in 1951, subsequently producing, arranging, and conducting sessions for Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé, and Nancy Wilson. In 1955, Feller joined the staff of the newly-formed ABC-Paramount label, working alongside the likes of producers including Don Costa and Creed Taylor; He remained with the company for a decade, releasing two LPs under his own name -- Music to Break a Lease By, and its follow-up, More Music to Break a Lease By -- in addition to helming studio dates for Paul Anka, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme. But his greatest success was his collaboration with Ray Charles -- ironically, when Charles first arrived at ABC with the idea of fusing his signature R&B approach with the string-laden sound coming out of Nashville, Feller did his best to talk the singer out of it, but the resulting Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music emerged as a critical and commercial smash. In 1965, Feller left ABC and relocated to California, later serving as musical director on TV's hit the Flip Wilson Show, as well as on specials headlined by performers ranging from Pat Boone and John Denver to John Davidson. He also produced a series of original cast recordings based on Broadway hits. ~ Jason Ankeny