Gail Laughton
Gail Laughton, born Denzil Gail Laughton (1921–1985), was an American jazz harpist. He worked in Hollywood, playing on many film and cartoon soundtracks.
Early life
Laughton was born in Oklahoma. His parents were both involved with the harp: his mother as a teacher and his father, Charles T. Laughton, as a harp builder. As a young child, he played with his family's orchestra, touring Cuba and Panama.[1] He joined the Oklahoma City Symphony in 1937, hired through the WPA at the minimum age of 15.[2]
Career
Laugton performs as Cary Grant's hands and arms during the harp-playing scene in The Bishop's Wife.[3]
Discography
- A Streetcar Named Desire soundtrack (Capitol Records, 1951).[4]
- Harps of the Ancient Temples (Laurel Records, 1978) - "The shimmering, ethereal quality of the harp sings out under [his] loving care." [5]
References
- ↑ "Gail Laughton, Jazz Harpist". The American Harp Journal 7 (3): 38–39. 1980.
- ↑ "Ralph rose 1937-1938". http://www.okcphilharmonic.org. Retrieved 28 October 2015. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "Gail Laughton, Jazz Harpist". The American Harp Journal 7 (3): 38–39. 1980.
- ↑ Performing Arts Annual, 1989, p. 7
- ↑ Birosik, Patti Jean (1989). The New Age Music Guide. New York: Collier Books. p. 107. ISBN 0020416407.
External links
- Review of Harps of the Ancient Temples with some background
- Current availability of Harps of the Ancient Temples
- Find-a-Grave
- Brief biography
- Discogs page
- Film Score Monthly list of soundtracks
- Gale Laughton at the Internet Movie Database
- Gail Laughton at AllMusic
- Gail's arms are shown when Cary Grant plays harp in The Bishop's Wife
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