Robert Maxwell – Beyond Gorilla Music

In a recent post about Ernie Kovacs’ Nairobi Trio, I identified the musical piece played by the gorilla-masked characters — “Solfeggio” — but neglected to mention the composer, who actually wrote several better-known songs. Harpist Robert Maxwell, who composed instrumental classics like “Shangri-La” and “Ebb Tide,” deserves a closer look.

The New York native grew up with an aptitude for the harp, and his talent paved the way for scholarships that led to a classical musical education. By age 17 he was the youngest member of the National Symphony Orchestra, performing solos and even touring with the group, often under the direction of conductors like Arturo Toscanini.

As he grew to adulthood and World War II began, Maxwell eventually joined the U.S. Coast Guard, where he ended up in a band led by Rudy Vallee. It was a valuable experience for the young performer, since it introduced him to the world of pop music and gave him the opportunity to adapt and expand his style of music.

By the post-war years he was beginning to find some success in radio and on records, as he continued to explore variations in his style of play. Eventually he would move into TV too, working with everyone from Milton Berle to Bob Hope and becoming known for inventive musical performances that included innovations like pulsating lights.

As a composer, he was well-known for songs like “Ebb Tide,” which was a hit for a number of performers, and “Shangri-La,” a huge seller for the Lettermen and a familiar sound for fans of the Jackie Gleason Show. Maxwell himself also had a good-selling record of the song during a long recording career that included many easy listening standards and light classics — even a few recorded under the name ‘Mickey Mozart’.

It’s difficult to find much information about Maxwell in later decades, but if he’s still around he would be in his late 80s. In any case, he has carved a place in music history — and for much more than just gorilla music.

Robert Maxwell – “Shangri-La”