Wayne Shanklin (June 6, 1916, Joplin, Missouri – June 16, 1970, Orange County, California) was an American music performer, composer, arranger, and producer.
Shanklin wrote several hit songs including "Primrose Lane" (1959), recorded by Jerry Wallace and "Jezebel", recorded by Frankie Laine in 1951 and covered (as an instrumental) by Australian teenage guitar prodigy Rob E.G. in 1963, as well as by Herman's Hermits in 1967.
Shanklin's best known composition is the song "Chanson D'Amour (Song of Love)." It was first recorded in 1958 in two competing versions by Art and Dotty Todd and The Fontane Sisters, both of which were successful. It was later covered by The Lettermen in the 1960s and was revived with great success by vocal jazz quartet The Manhattan Transfer in 1976.
Shanklin founded the independent record label Signet Records in Los Angeles in 1959. His secretary, Victoria Hamway, worked right along side him and in 1964, they were married. On August 31, 1965, born to Wayne and Vicki Shanklin, was his youngest boy of many children, Edward "Windsor" Shanklin. Though Windsor his only child with Vicki.
In the early 1950s, Shanklin wrote with Al Sherman as well as Sherman's sons, Robert and Richard who worked under assumed names at the time. One of the label's early successes was a song written by Shanklin. "The Big Hurt" (1959) became a US Top 5 hit in early 1960, and is also claimed to be the first commercial use of the production technique known as "flanging". Shanklin also wrote Miss Toni Fisher's 1962 single "West of the Wall", which dealt with the partition of East and West Germany and the erection of the Berlin Wall (although exactly the same melody and arrangement was used previously for an obscure Toni Fisher single on Signet called "Toot Toot Amore").
Shanklin also contributed music to a number of films. His song "Kiss Me Quick" was featured in the 1957 Randolph Scott western Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend. He composed the original music for the 1961 film Angel Baby that starred George Hamilton and Mercedes McCambridge.
Shanklin died June 16, 1970, from a heart attack in Orange County, California. He is survived by his several children including 5 year old Windsor and wife Vicki. His son Windsor and his band Jaz Dyin recorded a cover of in song Jezebel in 1983.
Shanklin's songs are still being used on the music soundtracks of several recent films; "Primrose Lane" was used on the soundtrack of Primary Colors (1998) starring John Travolta and "Chanson D'Amour" featured on the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick's final film, Eyes Wide Shut (1999).
Anna Calvi covered "Jezebel" which was released on Domino Records in 11th October 2010.[1]