Classical Music: Music 'Til Dawn

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Music 'Til Dawn

Reader Vern Jacobs of Lakewood, Ohio, called me last week with a burning question: What was the theme music used on 'Music 'til Dawn,' a show he listened to in the '60s while student at Miami University? Jacobs (who sang me a sort of monotone excerpt over the phone) thinks it was by Fritz Kreisler.

It's obviously driving Vern crazy.

So, I contacted the experts at WGUC-FM and Naomi Lewin responded with the possible answer. It was "That's All" performed by Nick Acquaviva and his Orchestra.

Ring a bell? Click this to hear the song.

Calling all insomniacs from the 60s: Let me know if that's the one!

96 Comments:

at 2/23/2006 12:33:00 AM

Anonymous said...

You are correct. "That's All" was the closing theme for American Airlines "Music 'til Dawn." I used to listen to it on WABC, New York, whe I lived in Western Pennsylvania, 1957 - 1965.

at 4/23/2006 01:06:00 PM

Anonymous said...

the link does not work on a mac for some reason. does anyone know how or where i can get a copy of this song. very important - romantic reasons!

at 12/31/2006 08:45:00 PM

Anonymous said...

I have 2 "Music 'Til Dawn " LP albums. On the first, "That's All" is by Sy Mann and his orchestra. I can assure you that's the version Ken Ackerman played every evening in San Francisco. On the second album (Vol 2) it's not the same. It's by the Music "til Dawn orchestra. It's not the theme as played each evening. I'm trying to figure how to cheaply get it on a CD as an MP3 file. I would be able to listen to it away from home that way.

at 1/24/2007 10:51:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Much of my appreciation for classical music was born out of listening in the wee hours of the morning to "Music 'Til Dawn," hosted by Jay Andres in Chicago in the late '50s. I was in high school at the time and would set my alarm clock for 3 or 4 in the morning, just to listen to Jay's broadcasts. Those were magical times for me and for nearly five decades I have enjoyed a life rich in the extreme thanks to the introduction to classical music I got through Jay and Music 'Til Dawn.

After I got out of the army, in 1964, I listened to Ken Ackerman, who hosted "Music 'Til Dawn in San Francisco. The program was as magical to me then as it was in my teens and I often listened to it, even though the San Francisco Bay Area had not one, but four radio stations dedicated to classical music: KKHI (AM and FM), KDFC-AM and its FM simulast station KIBE. Sadly, Music 'Til Dawn is long gone and KKHI is no more; there simply wasn't enough money to be made from casting pearls before swine.

at 5/10/2007 12:45:00 PM

DavidFerrellJackson said...

I'm going to question Bill Cherry's memory ("The king of "Music 'til Dawn" was a KREL Dallas, DJ, Hugh Lampman. We were told that he was the one who wrote the programs. I believe that to be true.")

Ken Ackerman was the host of the original "Music Till Dawn" on KCBS in San Francisco in the early 1950s.

The show continued on the air into the late 1980s on KKHI-FM, most notably with Scott Beach as host -- and with the original "That's All" theme opening and closing every broadcast.

David Jackson
Bay Area Radio Museum

Email: david.jackson@bayarearadio.org
Bay Area Radio Museum: www.BayAreaRadio.org
Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame: www.BARHOF.com
Broadcast Legends: www.BroadcastLegends.com

at 5/24/2007 05:52:00 PM

Unknown said...

I too have the two LPs and agree that one of them has the original on-air version of the theme (as heard on WJR when I was a kid). Now if I can just get my turntable working and figure out how to put all of my LPs through the computer onto a CD or whatever, I will be a happy man!

By the way, the program wasn't all classical. It started with an hour or two of easy listening instrumental, into several hours of classical, then back out with the easy listening pop music.

--Ken

Ken MacHarg

at 6/22/2007 02:55:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Wow - - there are people that still remember American Airlines' Music Til Dawn. I listened to the show most nights while a junior high and high school student in the 60's. The show I listened to was the one from New York City hosted by Bob Hall on WCBS-AM & FM. I think an earlier post had stated the show was on WABC but I remember it always being on WCBS (and if remember correctly, most of the stations that broadcast the show were CBS Radio afflitates).

As others, I have the two albums and although it's been a long time since my turntable worked, the version on the second album is the one I recall as the theme song. Somehow I want to say the it was a Jackie Gleason version. I recall that the two albums were made available by mail order through the program.

Final comment about the host in New York, Bob Hall: his voice was so familiar, I would recognize it when he also did announcing on the TV side WCBS-TV Channel 2. Remember back when all those announcement were live. Also, following Music Til Dawn in New York was one of those fantasic early morning shows hosted by Jack Sterling with live music by Clark Terry and a group. So in bad weather, Jack might be late and there would be Bob Hall hosting the morning show until Jack showed up.

I often wondered what Bob Hall and the engineer did during those long classical pieces - - play cards? nap? wander the building? etc. After Bob Hall left the show in it's later years, Don Robertson became the host. I don't know if American Airlines ended the sponsorship or the show got caught up in the All News format that the CBS Radio flagship stations were instituting. No pun intended but "That's All".

at 8/19/2007 10:25:00 PM

Jerry Buck said...

The recording available at the beginning of this thread was the closing theme of Music -til Dawn, but Jan Andres on WBBM used another version for the opening, a very dramatic arrangement with a sort of fanfare at the beginning, then the music softened down for the opening announcement, then came back up in volume with the theme. I wonder if anyone knows a source for that arrangement?

at 9/16/2007 12:31:00 PM

Unknown said...

HELLO!, WHAT A SURPRISE TO FIND THIS SPACE TO REMEMBER "MUSIC 'TILL DOWN"!, THE BEST RADIO PROGRAM I'VE EVER HEARD,THANKS TO AMERICAN AIRLINES. I'M AN OLD LAWYER (63), RETIRED JUDGE, AND I USED TO LISTEN IT BY KRLD-AM, DALLAS-FORT WORTH (FROM 22 HOURS TO 5 A.M.) WHEN I STUDIED THE LAST YEAR IN COLIMA UNIVERSITY; I LIVED IN MANZANILLO, MEXICO THEN, AND MUSIC 'TILL DOWN HELPED ME TO STUDY IN THE NIGHT. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.

at 9/16/2007 12:40:00 PM

Unknown said...

HELLO!, WHAT A BEAUTY SURPRISE TO FIND THIS PLACE TO REMEMBER "MUSIC 'TILL DOWN", THE BEST RADIO PROGRAM I'VE EVER HEARD THANKS TO AMERICAN AIRLINES. I'M AN OLD (63) MEXICAN LAWYER, RETIRED JUDGE, AND I USED TO LISTEN IT FROM 22 HRS., TO 5,BY KRLD-AM, DALLAS-FORT WORTH, WHEN I STUDIED MY LAST YEAR IN COLIMA UNIVERSITY. I LIVED IN MANZANILLO THEN, AND ENJOYED STUDYING AND LISTENING GOOD POPULAR AND CLASICAL MUSIC 'TILL DOWN. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.

at 9/25/2007 09:13:00 AM

Anonymous said...

I, too, have been looking for a copy of the song "That's All" written by Bob Haymes (Dick's brother). WCBS 880 in New York City carried the Ameican Airlines Music 'Til Dawn program from April 13, 1953 to Jan. 4, 1970 when the 'all news'format took over. The arrangement "That's All' was recorded by the Sy Mann Orchestra and was either arranged by Sy Mann or Bob Haymes. It started with a great fanfare (very symphonic). If anyone can get me an audiocassette copy of this version I can copy to Cd audio format.

dnessun@att.net

at 9/26/2007 05:09:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Jerry Buck said...
The recording available at the beginning of this thread was the closing theme of Music -til Dawn, but Jan Andres on WBBM used another version for the opening, a very dramatic arrangement with a sort of fanfare at the beginning, then the music softened down for the opening announcement, then came back up in volume with the theme. I wonder if anyone knows a source for that arrangement?

Jerry, I can ask Jay for you. He is actually my grandfather! what a delight when I saw this thread googling his name. I was actually trying to see if there were any old show clips online.

at 9/29/2007 04:03:00 PM

Arby said...

Annonymous asked about obtaining a copy of "That's All" the MTD theme song: there are several listed in Wikipedia who recorded it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That's_All

Even Bob Haymes recorded it on a private (Serendipity-Recordings) label LP accompanying himself on the piano. He's not the singer that his brother, Dick was, however. Online CD stores like www.cdconnection.com have hundreds of artists who include the song track on their CD's.

Sy Mann's orchestra version was indeed the opening theme on MTD.
Jay Andres in Chicago did a superb job timing his voice-over intro. The "second version" is by "an orchestra" (possibly Sy's) was the closing theme on WBBM with host, Jay Andres.

Incidentally, there are at least two half-hour airchecks of Jay Andres' MTD show openings, one is his final MTD WBBM broadcast before he went to WGN and WNIB.
He also narrated for classical music in-flight audio on American Airlines airplanes.

Here is his photo from WBBM:
http://wgngold.com/people/andres-jay.htm

Jay fell down stairs accidentally and had some serious injury ending his broadcasting career.

Chuck Schaden is a well-known radio host in Chicago, Here is his website and contact: www.nostalgiadigest.com
He did a retrospective "Those Were The Days" broadcast with Jay and some aircheck content of his old shows and early radio career in Milwaukee. It may still be available to purchase from Chuck.

Chuck Schaden still does a weekly nostalgia show on WDCB=FM from the suburban College of DuPage on Saturday afternoons (online streaming) Perhaps contacting Chuck will be a good source of MTD information and about Jay Andres.

Hope this all helps. =Arby

at 10/19/2007 02:39:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Jay Andres and Music 'til Dawn on Chicago's WBBM got me through many "all-nighters" when I was in college at Marquette University in the late '60's. By day I would listen to rock on WCFL and WLS or sometimes the Milwaukee rock stations, by night I would listen to Jay and his mix of easy listening and classical. I am thrilled that I am not alone in remembering how great Music 'til Dawn was.

at 10/28/2007 01:04:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Music til dawn and Jay Andres were a late night time staple in my early 60's college days . Later it became "our song" and we have waltzed along for almost 40 years on "love that lasts forever"

at 11/29/2007 11:11:00 AM

andre said...

My father's radio name was "Pete Mathews"and broadcast from WLW in Cincinnatti. If you knew him please leave blog. Andy

at 12/07/2007 09:50:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Living in Waco Texas, a high school student dating the pretty girl that is now my wife, I was able to hear Music till Dawn from a Dallas station. It was hosted by Tony Garrett. He had the most wonderful, relaxing voice I ever heard and the music was wonderful. Waco stations never played that good music. Right now,I remember sitting at a Drive-In hamburger place 45 years ago and Tony played a vocal of this some.

Thank you for finding it for us. I had tried often without any luck.

Bill

at 12/19/2007 04:19:00 PM

Anonymous said...

I remember only Bob Hall as the host in NYC. He developed cancer and worked for a long time without revealing his illness to the audience. When he became unable to continue, he finally told the audience. The outpouring of sympathy was immense. Then one day in the NY times there appeared a double truck copy with a huge banner headline spread across the two pages: "More women in NY go to bed with Bob Hall than anyone else".
It was a tribute to Hall unequaled before or since. I assume it was a paid ad because the Times was never known for its generosity, nevermind sympathy. In college in Maryland, the program was hosted by Eddie Gallagher, a real Percy Dovetonsils, but not a Bob Hall. I have tried to find out where to buy the soundtracks with no success. If anyone knows how, please respond. I was always under the impression that the theme, "That's All", was written by Mel Torme. I don't know if he wrote the lyrics, but I only want the instrumental version along with the other great music to which we were fortunate to hear without incessant commercials. Incidentally, Holiday Inns copied the format with a "Dolly Holiday" version. It was a poor imitation interrupted with constant hype.

at 12/28/2007 10:03:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Bill in Waco - Thanks for your comments about Music Till Dawn from KRLD. Your mention of Tony Garrett was the trigger that I needed to remember the name of the host. I, too, listened to this magnificent program many nights from my home in Mexia as a teenager in the late 1950s - 60s. What a great music program.
Jim

at 1/01/2008 10:34:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Music 'til Dawn actually had three themes in New York city during the early 60's.
It usually opened with Greensleeves, played I'll Be Around during the show, then ended with That's All. Fleetwood was the New York Announcer.

at 2/12/2008 01:16:00 AM

Anonymous said...

I could pick up WCBS while a Graduate Student at Yale, in the 1960's. 'American Airlines greets you with, 'Music Till Dawn,' Bob Hall aboard the flagship, WCBS.

at 2/22/2008 09:27:00 AM

Doodle said...

I, too, listened to Tony Garrett on KRLD in Dallas. The subject came up last night as my wife and I, along with our old pals from early '60's college days, two old married couples, were being entertained at the Myerson Symphony Hall in Dallas by a pianist prior to the concert. He played "That's All" and all of us remembered making out in the dorm parking lot to Tony Garrett's program. He used a vocal arrangement sung by Lenny Something or other. Maybe someone will remember his last name.

at 2/22/2008 09:27:00 AM

Doodle said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

at 4/28/2008 03:40:00 PM

Anonymous said...

I remember listening to John Acord hosting Music 'Til Dawn from Oklahoma City. I was a student at Oklahoma State - 70 miles away in Stillwater, OK.

I wanted that music to be the Father Daughter dance at my daughters wedding, but we never found it.

at 5/17/2008 10:12:00 PM

Anonymous said...

This may the best radio show of all times. It was a very comforting show to listen to all night long in the Dallas area in the 60's. I was employed at Restland Funeral Home and spent most nights working and listening to "Music Tll Dawn." What a show, and the music lives on.

at 5/19/2008 09:38:00 AM

Anonymous said...

In the late 50's my then girlfriend (now wife of 49 yrs) would park under the East Texas Pines and listen to Hugh Lampman on KRLD Dallas. "That's All" was our song and still is. Currently my favorite recording star (Rod Stewart) still sings this song and helps keep the memories alive.
T.D. Loyd

at 5/22/2008 01:48:00 PM

Anonymous said...

I pledged Hugh Lampman's fraternity at SMU(He was a graduating senior)and we used to listen to his program on most nights.
Several miscreants would have sexy-voiced call Hugh at the station, and suggest an early morning rendevous.
Of course the address would be a vacant lot or a Seven-Eleven.
It worked almost everytime.
I will take issue with you dates of "'60s and '70s".
We were at SMU in the mid-'50s.

at 6/03/2008 02:15:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Music till Dawns Song "That's All"

I can only give you love that lasts forever..and the promise to be near each time you call..and the only heart I own, for you and you along..That's All That's All

I can only give you country walks in springtime and a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall..and a love whose burning light will warm the winters night..That's All That's All

There are those I am sure who have told you..they will give you the world for a toy..All I have is these arms to enfold you and a love that time can't destroy.

If you're wondering what I'm asking in return dear, you'll be glad to know that my demands are small... say it's me that you'll adore for now and evermore..
That's All That's All

at 8/25/2008 03:14:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Anyone out there remember the old
radio program called "The Early Birds?" It was broadcast on KRLD
back in the mid to late 50's. It supposedly took place in the "Jot'Em Down Hotel" with an old codger playing the Manager who loved the old song "The Old Oaken Bucket". Other regulars was a lady singer named Terry Lea and a bell hop named "Little Willie Botts".

at 6/16/2009 06:16:00 AM

Unknown said...

What a great thread! I probably should not be surprised that so many share my memories of "Music 'Til Danw".

At the time I was broadcasting my own radio show on KNFM, a 50,000 watt facility in West Texas. When my own show was over each evening, I would tune in Tony Garrett, Music 'Til Dawn on KRLD in Dallas. His selection of music was always excellent. I am quite sure that it was on Tony's show that I first heard Aaron Copland's 'Fanfare for the Common Man'.

My kudos to this blog. It helps to keep alive the memories of this legendary radio series.

at 9/16/2009 10:17:00 PM

Ripple Two said...

I was in the Army stationed at Redstone Arsenal in the early 1960's and dated a girl who lived 60 miles away. On the way back to base on the weekends I listened to Jay Andres on WBBM Chicago. It must have been a clear channel station because although it would occasionally fade into the noise it was never covered by another station. I agree with others who now remember it as the greatest radio show they ever listened to. Listening to "That's All" brought all back again. Oh, I married that girl and I now live in the same town she was born.

at 11/01/2009 02:26:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Thank You! Been searching for this info for years. Listened to the program from the flagship station in San Francisco while a student at Berkeley and courting my wife!

at 2/13/2010 09:07:00 AM

HappyME said...

This is amazing! This thread's been going for nearly four years. Shows you something of the value we all placed on MTD and its theme. I listened in high school in Arlington Virginia and often stayed awake so I could hear the theme that, to me, meant comfort through the night. Actually, I guess I often fell asleep right after that so the theme was "the thing" for me.

At least part of the time I think Don Boothman was the host. A bit later in my life he was my voice teacher but back then I only knew him as the most wonderful Scarpia I'd ever seen or heard. :)

I don't know if anyone ever resolved our need for the opening of MTD. I would truly treasure being able to access it at will either by having the MP3 (or any other audio format) of it or being able to access it online. Has anyone been able to find it?

Thanks to all of you for letting me know I'm not alone with my memories. Or my whimsy.

at 4/30/2010 01:40:00 AM

Forester Ronald said...

When I was growing up on a farm in Ohio in the 50s, I was a great late-night radio fan. Many were the nights when I listened to MTD on WLW Cincinnati. Sometimes I could pick up a DC station (WTOP?) which carried it an hour earlier than WLW. WBBM Chicago carried it an hour later in the morning and occasionally I could get that station. I heard it on WWL New Orleans too. Then in 1959, I went to California and lo and behold there it was on KCBS. The last time I heard the the program I was deep in the Salmon River canyon in central Idaho. Conditions were just right and WLW came in for a while. Bill Myers was the host. I don't think American Airlines sponsored it at that time. KKHI San Francisco had their own version of MTD with the same theme, but different sponsors of course, until they sadly met their demise. Scott Beach hosted that one. I loved that program and get so nostalgic just thinking about it. The introductory Sy Mann version of "That's All" started with blaring trombones simulating the old pre-jet airplane engines.

at 4/30/2010 07:17:00 AM

HappyME said...

"...get so nostalgic just thinking about it. The introductory Sy Mann version of "That's All" started with blaring trombones simulating the old pre-jet airplane engines."

Oh yeah!

Is there a recording of that version?

at 9/07/2010 01:49:00 AM

Anonymous said...

I attended American Univ in Washington DC 1963-67. It is also my recollection that WTOP carried the program. I flash back 40+ years each time I hear it.

There are no easy listening stations in San Diego. I have to listen to WKTZ in Jacksonville online.

at 9/07/2010 06:44:00 AM

Anonymous said...

I was at AU off an on from '61 through '65. Ended up graduating from Georgia State much later but that's another story. Anyway, yup, I can hear it too. There's a sweet poignancy to it.

at 9/25/2010 12:17:00 AM

Chuck said...

A friend of mine and I used to drive to the Bay Area from San Luis Obispo in the wee hours to go home for the weekend.

We were students at Cal Poly and also musicians. We usually departed after playing a gig, hence the lateness. On the drive we always listened to "Music 'til Dawn".

The tune became one of my favorites. During that time I wrote a big band arrangement of "That's All" for our college band.

We still have our college big band together. We play a gig at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo each year. We use my arrangement of "That's All" to close our show.

The name of the group is "The Cal Poly Collegians Alumni Big Band". All of us are mostly from the 1961 band with a few from earlier and later bands.

We've been together since that time which is somewhat of a phenom.....

Here's a link to our website:

http://www.cpcollegiansalumni.com/

It's really nice to find some fellow compatriots that loved "Music 'til Dawn" and "That's All".

at 9/25/2010 08:06:00 AM

HappyME said...

Great post by Chuck. The Collegians website - and the band going strong - is super. I'm on the left coast so no chance to hear you but I'll bet the sound is wonderful. Especially, of course, "That's All". :)

at 9/25/2010 10:53:00 PM

Jim Wright said...

Music 'Til Dawn. It has been a long time. In the early to mid 1960's I was a newsman at WTOP Washington.

While I did mostly TV, there was a period I did the weeknight 11pm radio news. In another studio down the hall Terry Hourigan would be settling in to begin another night of hosting Music 'Til Dawn.

There also was a period I worked Saturday mornings. Arriving about 5, Terry would still be there, wrapping up the Friday night show. Tough hours.

Off topic, something that amused me. Saturdays mornings I would do the 7:55 local news to be followed at 8 by the "CBS World News Roundup" with Neil Strawser or Roger Mudd...from one studio wall away.

At that time WTOP still housed the Washington Bureau of CBS News. An interesting place to be.

at 9/26/2010 06:57:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Jim, you're a link to the past. That was my MTD station. Do you remember, later on, did Don Boothman ever host it?

at 9/27/2010 01:32:00 AM

Gil said...

Ok, boys and girls - the Tony Acquaviva version of That's All, which was used at the top of the hour and for the outtro on Music Til Dawn, is available on iTunes. It took some digging but if you search for The Golden Age of Light Music: Musical Kaleidescope, it'll be there.

One of the better 99 cent purchases you'll ever make.

at 9/27/2010 07:48:00 AM

HappyME said...

Gil, the Acquaviva version is certainly close to what we all remember. I downloaded it yesterday from Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028HB88Q/ref=yml_dmt) and am a happy camper. As you say - very well worth the .99 price. :)

at 11/19/2010 04:12:00 AM

order viagra online said...

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at 4/10/2011 09:07:00 PM

peten said...

I grew up listening to Terry Horrigan
on WTOP in DC late into the night.
I've been looking (for a while, like
years) for the original MTD opening
theme (NOT the Acquaviva version). I
remember it having a lush, orchestral opening, building (4-6
bars) to the strings taking the melody. Is this the "Sy Mann" version?
Does anyone really know? I wish I could get a recording of the
original MTD, just so I can close my eyes and relive that time.
Anyeone? Waaay back in this blog,
someone mentioned they had 2 LPs,
one with Sy Mann's version. Did
they ever get it converted to .mp3?
I'd pay....

at 4/26/2011 03:47:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Peten: I've not been able to the Sy Mann version of That's All and I've searched for dozens and dozens of hours. I am giving up.

If you have not already listened to the versions by The Jackie Gleason Orchestra and Henry Mancini, give them a try.
Jackie Gleason's version is on You Tube.
Have only been able to listen to Mancini's version in its entirety at: Rhapsody.com.
Rhapsody.com has Gleason, too.

HM's version is done in his typical subdued style ... mellow and soothing. Very nice.
JG's is very good; I especially like the terrific trumpet solo by Bobby Hacket and I don't even like the trumpet.

B. Phipps

at 4/27/2011 04:54:00 PM

GP49 said...

Downloads of three recordings of "That's All" are available on my Mediafire page.

They are the Sy Mann recording...the original one; the one made in the 1960s by the "Music Til Dawn Orchestra"; and the commercial recording by Tony Acquaviva.

The Sy Mann and MTD recordings are from the Columbia Special Products LPs that were sold through the program. I ordered a set but they never arrived. I mentioned this to San Francisco's Music Til Dawn host Ken Ackerman, and he saw to it that I got the records...personally delivered!

Ken Ackerman seemed to prefer the Sy Mann recording; when the MTD Orchestra one was made, he played it as the theme for a while, but went back to Sy Mann after a short while. He also used the Acquaviva recording (but only the first part of it) as bumper music to lead into the hourly station breaks. Other commercial recordings of "That's All" would occasionally be used as bumper music, too.

KNX in Los Angeles changed over to the MTD Orchestra recording permanently...it is, after all, more glitzy and glamorous...HOLLLLYWOOD!!

Enjoy the downloads. You can get them at:

http://www.mediafire.com/?c9m08asdpwwag

at 4/28/2011 08:03:00 AM

HappyME said...

Oh my! GP49 you've done it! What we've all been waiting for and wanting - for all these years. I'm listening now and tearing up, goose bumps and the whole works.

Thank you, thank you ad infinitum.

at 4/28/2011 08:05:00 AM

HappyME said...

Now I've listened, I also prefer - and indeed remember only - the Sy Mann version.

Nothing shabby about the MTD version though.

True treasures!

at 4/29/2011 05:56:00 PM

Anonymous said...

GP49.

You are a god.

I've been hearing this (the Sy Mann
version apparently) in my head
for 50 years and now I can finally
really *hear* it.

You will go to heaven.

Thank you so much.

at 9/09/2011 02:17:00 PM

BParsons said...

It's great to comment on a long-standing thread like this. I have had the good fortune to find a RealPlayer file online that covers the pre-launch of John Glenn's flight, but gets sent back to the CBS affiliate in San Francisco, where I hear the MTD theme, and another classical piece.

Last night, I found the Sy Mann version in an MP3 format on the net, and was overjoyed to download it.

I had the first MTD album, and probably wore it out before I got out of college. I was searching for one for sale when I found this site.

I miss those all-nighters with Tony Garrett on KRLD. The Dallas station was at 1080, and when MTD was over, I could still hear it for another two hours, because KNX in Los Angeles was at 1070, and bled over at that time of the morning. I could reach up and micro-adjust the tuning on the old Zenith clock radio, and get the second sign-off.

I would love to find the album again, and hope that some day a digital recording turns up with Tony Garrett himself on it.

at 9/20/2011 06:57:00 PM

GP49 said...

That KCBS aircheck with Music 'Til Dawn excerpts with Ken Ackerman announcing, and commentary on the John Glenn orbital flight, is at the Bay Area Radio History site. San Francisco's Music 'Til Dawn host, Ken Ackerman, is in the Bay Area Radio History's Hall of Fame; he contributed the aircheck.

http://www.bayarearadio.org/audio/kcbs/1962/KCBS_Music-Till-Dawn_20-Feb-1962.ram

(I hope the URL doesn't wrap...if it does, you'll have to put it together again, Humpty-Dumpty style!)

There have been hundreds of downloads of that Sy Mann "That's All" at...

http://www.mediafire.com/?c9m08asdpwwag

...since I put it up there.

There is a YouTube clip of the opening of "Music 'Til Dawn" from KCBS in San Francisco, with Ken Ackerman's voiceover, at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWe2MY5BvWY

What has been fun to do: I took recordings of the Music 'Til Dawn theme (Sy Mann, Tony Acquaviva); Ken Ackerman's voiceover from the You Tube clip, some of Ackerman's announcements and the American Airlines commercials from the Bay Area Radio History clip, and spliced in music which would have been typical for Music 'Til Dawn...and edited together my own, 75-minute ersatz Music 'Til Dawn program. One day I had to be someplace a hundred miles away before 5am, so I played the program in my car's CD player. It uncannily captured the "atmosphere" of Music 'Til Dawn, as if it were my own personal Wayback Machine.

at 10/02/2011 12:44:00 AM

Ralph said...

Nostalgics are alike! I too clipped Ken Ackerman tags and spliced them to classics played around 1960 -62 for my own show lasting 40 minutes.

'Also did the same thing for San Francisco/Oakland's KABL around the same period...

'Wouldn't want to be 19 again, but reliving those broadcast is truly enjoyable!

at 10/02/2011 02:02:00 AM

Coe Linn said...

In the mid-1950s, while in school at North Texas State College (now The University of North Texas), I was a faithful listener to KRLD Dallas at midnight for "Music Till Dawn." Whether I was studying or ready for sleep, my evening ritual, as well as my roommates', was to end our school day with "That's All" (C'est Tout). Such wonderful memories.

at 10/16/2011 11:56:00 AM

Tiotaco said...

What a wonderful line of nostalgia--I was college student and Air Force member in early 50's and listened to MTD at stations across the country while doing all night drives. Then settled in Dallas and had the constant presence and pleasure of Hugh Lampman, king of the crew, for the remainder years of MTD on KRLD.

Tiotaco@yahoo.com

at 1/12/2012 12:47:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Thanks much to all for your posts and links to the music. I grew up in Denison, Texas 75 miles north of Dallas in the late 50s and early 60s and never forgot the many late evenings with dates listening to KRLD-AM 's version of AA MTD on my 52 Chevy radio. Hearing "That's All" again shortens those 50 years to yesterday for me.

at 1/12/2012 08:09:00 AM

gorham.maine said...

Very cool... and nice ... and actually pretty amazing. Every few months a new comment will turn up from someone who's found "us" and a link to his or her past. The power of music; the magic of memory.

at 4/09/2012 01:41:00 AM

Anonymous said...

I can't believe there is a blog about Music Till Dawn. I listened to Ken Ackerman host the show from San Francisco when I was in high school in Santa Maria, a rural city in central coastal California, 600 miles south of The City. He and American Airlines were my nightly window on the world as I floated away on the music. I later played a reel to reel tape of MTD music when I was in Viet Nam.

at 4/09/2012 10:32:00 AM

Janelle Gelfand said...

This is unbelievable, to link up so many people from so many regions of the country through one little theme song, from a question I posed here in 2005!

at 4/09/2012 10:41:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Janelle, did you start it? Wow. Yup quite amazing. It'll go along with no activity at all for months and then suddenly someone else 'discovers' it. And we all think about it again. It paid off too, thanks to a lot of perseverance, caring and sharing. Congrats, theme thread's mom. ;->

at 9/15/2012 07:58:00 AM

Anonymous said...

I remember Jay Andres and the wonderful Music til Dawn show out of Chicago in the late 50s when I was a student at Northwestern. I recall the That's All theme with Bobby Hackett on coronet, but while the Aquaviva record sounds like it, I distinctly remember Jay always saying that the record was by Tuti Commorati.

Sam in Sarasota

at 11/17/2012 07:55:00 PM

Joe in Holmes Beach said...

As with most of who've posted here, I'm delighted to have found this thread. MTD on WLW is one of the treasures of growing up in Springfield Ohio in the 50's and 60's. The downloaded Sy Mann theme takes about 50 years off my calendar. I'm surprised MTD doesn't have a Wikipedia Page. Too bad there's not more than a couple of LPs and a few fragments of an effort that is far more engaging than what passes for "entertainment" on most radio stations today.

at 11/18/2012 07:59:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Joe's right! Maybe the Wikipedia or webpage effort ought to come from this very group. We're the ones who care after all. Uh.. But we're not so very organized are we? Years go by between posts. Ah well. 'Twas a good idea.

at 2/09/2013 04:58:00 PM

Anonymous said...

I remember listening to "Music 'Til Dawn" before the 1960's...I was a kid on a ranch in Wyoming...and Ken Ackerman of KNX out of Los Angeles was the disc jockey...wonderful...but why do I recall "What's New" with the trombone solo as being a part of it?

Year later while living in Yokohama Japan, I found all of the American Airline music at the local PX and transferred all of the recordings to reel to reel tape...I have them somewhere...but after these years probably unplayable..

As a kid I would listen to KNX wax and wane off the ionosphere...Its 50,000 watts reached Wyoming then...and the show came on at 10 p.m....

Maybe Ken played "What's New" at the beginning and "That's All" at the end of his show...

Music 'Til Dawn is a part of my fondest memories...

You know...you can get Bobby Hackett's trumpet recordings today...and his best album is his wonderful trumpet on his album "Music 'Til Dawn"..

I hope this post reaches many...
I can be reached at bootsup1@yahoo.com

at 2/09/2013 05:04:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Wow what a thread this is...with all of you who have lived and loved "Music 'Til Dawn"...

We are all kindred spirits.

Paul Bennion
Graeagle, California
bootsup1@yahoo.com

at 3/07/2013 06:31:00 PM

Unknown said...

Someone mentioned the Cincinnati Music Til Dawn hosts on WLW. Pete Matthews (real name Mantis Manchikes) was a longtime host. I later worked with him at WWEZ around 1990. Sadly he has since passed. Bill Myers was the other longtime host and has fond memories of the show and his role as local host.

at 6/22/2013 06:15:00 PM

Unknown said...

Love this thread. I am surprised no one has mentioned Mel Baldwin, who hosted MTD on KNX Los Angeles in the early 50's. What a soothing voice. I always made it to bed by 11 PM to catch his intro. More often than not I was fast asleep before he finished it. I tried for years to remember whose version of That's All was used and just found Sy Mann's recording on Youtube. I had always thought it was a vocal group recording, but that must have been one I heard later. I think Mel is still alive and living in Florida.

at 10/16/2013 04:05:00 AM

Don said...

Great to find fellow MTD lovers!
I fondly remember being in bed staying up way too late (school in the morning) listening to Bob Hall on WCBS-AM in NYC. His opening the show was so relaxing, he may have had the most soothing voice in radio. He played lots of beautiful music by Jackie Gleason, David Rose, Andre Kostelanetz, Million Dollar Strings, so many others. Thank you so much for the audio links. I never knew what happened to Bob Hall, so sorry for him.

at 11/05/2013 07:54:00 PM

ASEA Don said...

I can't believe that there is a thread here dedicated to Music 'til Dawn.

I remember listen to MTD first on my crystal radio that my folks gave me one Christmas when I was about 10 years old. We lived near the KNX transmitter in Los Angeles and it came in loud and clear.

Then later I talked my folks into letting me purchase, with a loan from them, a Hallicrafters S 120 short wave radio. I put up a long antenna on the roof and could get stations all over. I could then hear MTD from around the country.

I don't know why I liked MTD so much, after all, I was by then a high school kid and all of my friends were listening to rock and roll on their "transistors."

This thread really brings back memories of listening to MTD while my parents thought that I was fast asleep. It is something I will always remember.

at 11/05/2013 11:07:00 PM

Anonymous said...

ASEA Don's experience is a lot like that of many of us. I too continue to be amazed and delighted that this thread has developed a life of its own; and except for the type of receiver, again, a common experience. I was in high school and listed faithfully every night long after lights out. And I never found a fellow devotee among my fellow students or, indeed at all, until I found this thread. Thanks for helping it continue!

at 12/31/2013 01:59:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Music Til Dawn from Cincinnati was my program at Ohio State until I graduated in 1961.....went home to Cleveland and found it there! What a relief. The song has been in my memory all these years. So glad to hear from all of you. Happy New Year!

at 2/09/2014 01:42:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Frank H
I didn't get much of a chance to listen to Music till Dawn living in a remote area where distant AM signals were weak. But, as I began to travel during the night, Music till Dawn was something I always looked for - from Dallas, or LA, usually. That was a program for the times, sad to see it go, but happy to see it can still be accessed on the web. Good memories, good and long drives at night - sometimes extended just so I could finish listening to a wonderful music selection. And a Theme song that has never been surpassed. Thanks, AA, and thanks to all those who created and sustained good, mature music listening!

at 5/26/2014 11:47:00 PM

Kul said...

Does anybody remember Craig Harrison hosting from San Franciso.

at 6/26/2014 12:46:00 AM

Unknown said...

I had this song played at my wife's memorial after she passed in Sept 2012 from cancer. It basically summed up our ten years of dating and 37 years of marriage. I used the Ricky Nelson version. This song will always haunt me as I listened to Ameircian MTD as a teenager into early 20's desiring the woman of my dreams.

at 7/02/2014 10:50:00 AM

Jim Robinson said...

Wow! What a great trip! When my wife and I were dating (we lived in Mesquite, a suburb to the east of Dallas), we frequently went to movies in "Big D". About the time we were pulling out of the parking lot, "Music Till Dawn" was coming on KRLD. That was in the early 60's, and Hugh Lampman was the host. A number of years later some friends called the station and talked "on air" with Hugh's successor (was it Tony Garrett?). I have that all on tape (now CD), and it's a prized possession. That host (Tony?) played two versions of Tony Aquaviva's "That's All," and said that some stations used one and some used the other. Of course, I'm partial to the KRLD version, and since I don't have access to the tape at the moment, I don't recall the differences between the two versions. Anyway, I'm so glad I found this conversation!

at 7/09/2014 03:39:00 AM

GP49 said...

And the Music Til Dawn thread lives on!

Kul asked about Craig Harrison as a relief announcer, doing Music Til Dawn on KCBS in San Francisco. Yes, I remember that happening but only very rarely. When I was listening, Robin King was the more-frequent relief for Ken Ackerman.

Craig Robinson wrote about his using "That's All" at his wife's memorial. Craig, I'm sad to hear that you have lost your wife but happy that there is this single piece of music that still brings her memory to you. A reader wrote me (it's not easy to track us down, given what contact information Blogger gives us...he guessed, and guessed right!) in thanks, as he downloaded "That's All" played by Sy Mann from my Mediafire page because a close relative of his wanted it played under similar circumstances. He found it through this blog...as many do, after a Google search.

As a reminder, the Music Til Dawn theme, "That's All," is still downloadable in three versions: the original Sy Mann; the later Music Til Dawn Orchestra; and the commercial recording by Tony Acquaviva, all three used on the air on American Airlines Music Til Dawn:

http://www.mediafire.com/?c9m08asdpwwag

at 8/24/2014 08:32:00 PM

Anonymous said...

So excited to find other people who remember Music Till Dawn. After a date when you and your sweetie went parking, Tony Garret was the one to listen to. I lived 60 miles s of Dallas. "That's All" brings back such wonderful memories.

at 10/25/2014 07:30:00 PM

GP49 said...

Watching Alfred Hitckcock's movie, "The Birds" today on television, I am reminded that Hitch himself was a big fan of Music 'Til Dawn. He listened to the program on KCBS when near San Francisco, and enlisted Music 'Til Dawn host Ken Ackerman as a radio news announcer in the movie.

We who listened, and who loved Music 'Til Dawn, were in good company.

at 10/26/2014 06:33:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Re: Music till Dawn. Hugh Lampmann was the original host in Dallas on KRLD AM. He was replaced after several years by Tony Garrett.

at 11/29/2014 12:23:00 PM

Geotix said...

As a teenager I remember listening to Music 'til Dawn on WBBM in Chicago with Mel Baldwin as host in the late 60s and early 70s. It was a nice break from the rock of WLS and the full-time classics of WFMT-FM. I agree that Mel had such a soothing voice. He started each show with about an hour of easy listening and light classics, before switching to mainstream classical music for the balance of the show until 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning. Unfortunately, none of GP49's versions of "That's All" spark my memory as the version used for the broadcast theme. Could there have been another version of "That's All" used in Chicago? I'd love to hear an aircheck of the show!

at 11/29/2014 03:32:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Hi Geotix,

A while back GP49 posted three MP3 files including THE original theme performed by the MTD Orchestra. I think the Sy Mann version was also either the theme in some areas or at least they used his arrangement. There's also one by Tony Acquaviva which, until GP found his files, was the closest we could get.

Here's the link: http://www.mediafire.com/?c9m08asdpwwag

Wonderful that we still care. And continuing oh so great thanks to GP49!

-G.

at 12/12/2014 01:19:00 AM

Unknown said...

Oh wow! Does this bring back memories from the 1950s-60s! Thanks so much for posting. I listened to MTD every night from a small town in Canada (near Ottawa)....all night quite often, mainly from WBBM Chicago with the superb Jay Andres and, when the WBBM signal occasionally faded, with Bob Hall on WCBS, Chicago. I went into radio myself in the early '60s and once managed a classical station, but spent most of my career as a radio and print news guy. I learned more than anyone will ever know about great music and about radio from these terrific broadcasters. isutton@cogeco.ca

at 4/12/2015 07:42:00 AM

Anonymous said...

I just ran across this fun multi-year thread. In 2010 I videotaped an interview with Ken Ackerman where he discussed his hosting of MTD on KCBS in San Francisco. His description took me back the the many late nights as a kid in Cincinnati listening to Pete Mathews, in the dark, with my Arvin radio. Those broadcasts, along with my school music teacher set me on a path of classical music appreciation that is still an important part of my life today. Here is the Youtube interview with Ackerman. Move to 31:47 for the section on his MTD story:
http://tinyurl.com/n9gomlr

at 7/23/2017 02:44:00 AM

GP49 said...

The programmer/host of American Airlines Music 'Til Dawn in San Francisco from 1958 to 1970, Ken Ackerman, died in late May 2017. He was 95.

Thus we lose another illustrious link to radio's past, and to Music 'Til Dawn. I feel fortunate and privileged to have met Ken Ackerman, who gifted me my copies of the Columbia Special Products records, Music 'Til Dawn, volumes one and two; and to have called him my friend.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Ken-Ackerman-quintessential-Bay-Area-radio-11179597.php

C'est tout...That's All.

at 2/28/2018 12:42:00 AM

AL am I said...

Listening to Seigei Rachmaninoff's Symphony #2 tonight on a cable channel reminded me of those nights in the late 1950's when I used to listen to MTD with Jay Andres from WBBM, Chicago, while studying electrical engineering at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. After graduation, I'd tune in "Jay" on vacation trips when I used to drive all night; except westward, after crossing the "Rockies", I had to switch over to KKHI, San Francisco. Nice to hear from other people who appreciated classical music radio from Music 'Til Dawn.

at 7/31/2018 10:34:00 PM

john inman eureka said...

I grew up in a two room shack in an alley ,Santa Maria,Ca..Culure was everything to me I listened to the KCBS broadcast every night and slept to it." Theats All" was the starting theme.I listened to a .AM broadcast in the 90s early 80s. I still luslis to Classical music all the time and at night.Kdfc now
I lived I'm the City 1972- 80 ama listened to it then.

at 8/01/2018 09:51:00 AM

MTD-Gorham said...

Welcome. The participants in this blog sort of appear out of nowhere every once in awhile. We're all dedicated to the MTD we listened to long ago. Memories are most welcome here; most of us relate totally.

at 12/09/2018 10:56:00 AM

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at 12/09/2018 10:56:00 AM

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at 1/21/2021 09:34:00 PM

Anonymous said...

It was both opening and closing theme performed by the Sy Mann orch. A "Music til Dawn" LP went to members of the Columbia Record Club which has that theme and is probably available on the web

at 8/17/2021 04:11:00 AM

GP49 said...

This thread has been here since February 2006 and I still visit it, now and then. We who still remember listening to American Airlines Music Til Dawn are aging. But as long as we live, we will not forget those times, long ago when fine music went out over the air every night across America.

As a reminder, you can still download three versions of the Music Til Dawn theme, "That's All," as used by KCBS in San Francisco over the years. Mediafire says there have been nearly a thousand downloads since I put them there. I'm pleased that so many have found happiness from this music, from so long ago.

http://www.mediafire.com/?c9m08asdpwwag

at 8/17/2021 05:40:00 PM

HappyME said...

I have it set to send me an email when this eternal thread gets a comment. It's a surprisingly active bunch who still tune in - if only virtually - to Music 'til Dawn. May the group live long and prosper!

From Gorham, Maine now but I listened when I lived in the D.C. area.

at 7/17/2022 08:30:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Hello, HappyMe!! We both last visited in August 2021...the last activity on the thread. I'm just checking in to see who might be still out there! I still have a warm feeling when I think of Music 'Til Dawn, and when I cue up "That's All." I recently lost some edited and enhanced tracks of that music in a hard drive crash but fortunately have enough saved up on backup drives. And if I had to, I coulf download my own files from MediaFire!

Good night to all, wherever you may be.

at 7/19/2022 02:54:00 PM

HappyME said...

Hi AMous,

Yup. I'm still here. I get notified of posts and kind of wiggle a bit to keep my part of the thread active.

My exercise of choice is a stationary bicycle and I cycle daily to a variety of music. On of my groups has (permanently) the Sy Mann "That's All". Takes me back. Way back. My recollection is that my then voice teacher was the host of MTD for a time. No one else remembers him in that role so I could be wrong. Still, it suits my memory to have him there. 8-)

I'm glad you rattled the cage. It's nice to know at least one other is still interested. It's being quite a run, isn't it!?

-HappyMe.

at 3/20/2023 01:21:00 PM

GP49 said...

I am still here, too! As of now, there have been over 1200 downloads of "That's All" in three versions played on Music 'Til Dawn on KCBS in San Francisco.

http://www.mediafire.com/?c9m08asdpwwag

The complete Sy Mann version and one with the voiceover, "Good Evening, American Airlines greets you with Music 'Til Dawn," are now available on YouTube.

I revive my memories with home-compiled imitation CDs of Music 'Til Dawn with announcements by Ken Ackerman, which I play in my car when on nighttime drives. Those memories are fond ones!

at 7/06/2023 02:18:00 AM

GP49 said...

Last month, I wrote and posted an item about American Airlines Music Til Dawn and San Francisco host/programmer Ken Ackerman to a Facebook group about San Francisco history. It was gratifying to see the responses of those for whom fond rememberances of Music Til Dawn still live on.

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Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Music 'Til Dawn

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