Artie Kaplan
Artie Kaplan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arthur William Kaplan October 28, 1935 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | October 11, 2025 (aged 89) Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, pop |
| Occupations | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Saxophone, flute |
| Years active | 1960–2025 |
Arthur William Kaplan (October 28, 1935 – October 11, 2025) was an American recording artist, songwriter and a session musician. He had also been a music contractor where he was hired to musicians for sessions. In the 1960s, he was casting musicians for sessions for Aldon Music.[1] When musician Joe Delia was asked about the best advice he had ever had, he said it was from Kaplan, who said "Always show up on time and bring a pencil."[2]
Background
Kaplan graduated from Lafayette High School, after which he served in the Army.[3] Kaplan was a singer-songwriter, producer and composer and the instruments he played were saxophone, clarinet, flute and piccolo. His saxophone playing and solos could be heard on over 150 songs that made it to the top 10. The songs he has played on are "1-2-3" by Len Barry, "The Locomotion" by Little Eva, "Mandy" by Barry Manilow, "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" by Neil Sedaka and "Sunday Will Never Be the Same" by Spanky & Our Gang.[4]
In 1972, he released an album with the title Confessions of a Male Chauvinist Pig. In a studio news summary, Billboard's Sam Sutherland referred to it as "an eyebrow raising project" that Chris Dedrick (of The Free Design) and Mort Ross were working on.[5]
Kaplan died on October 11, 2025, at the age of 89.[6]
Songwriting
Kaplan co-wrote the song "Harmony" with Norman Simon which appeared on his 1972 album Confessions of a Male Chauvinist Pig. It has been covered by Ray Conniff and the Singers and appeared on their album of the same title.[7]
Along with Artie Kornfeld, Kaplan co-wrote "Bensonhurst Blues", which was a hit for Dutch singer Oscar Benton.[8] Other songs he has written are "My First and Only Lover" which was recorded by Nat "King" Cole and "It's Been a Long Time" which has been recorded by Eric Faulkner.[9]
Discography
Singles
- "Harmony" / "God Fearin' Man" – Interfusion – 1972 (New Zealand)[10]
- "Harmony" / "Stay Don't Go" – CBS – CBS 1189 – 1973 (Germany)[11]
- "Bensonhurst Blues" / "Music Is Sweet Music in My Soul" – Riviera 121470 – 1973 (France)[12]
- "Down by the Old Stream" / "I Wanna Go To Coney Island with My Grandma" – Paramount 0276 (1974)
- "Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay" / " Livin' Ain't So Easy" – Soedi – SOJ 640001 – 1981 (Italy)[13]
- "Music Is Sweet Music to My Soul" / "Yours Is The Song" – Philips 6017 308 – 1982 (Netherlands)[14]
Albums
- Confessions of a Male Chauvinist Pig – Hopi VHS 901 – 1972
- Down By the Old Stream – Paramount PAS-1019 – 1974[15]
- My Name Is Artie Kaplan – K-Tel – TI 183 (Italy)[16]
Compilation albums
CD albums
- Fun Time for Kids w/Artie Kaplan
- Confessions of a Male Chauvinist Pig
- I'm Just the Singer in the Band
- Barnyard Stories and Poems
- Down by the Old Stream[19]
Session work
Singles
- Connie Francis – "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" – Soprano saxophone[20]
- Neil Sedaka – "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" – Saxophone[21]
Albums
- Nat Adderley – Sayin' Somethin' – saxophone[22]
- Janis Ian – Between the Lines – alto saxophone
- Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes – Reflections of a Golden Dream – baritone saxophone[23]
- Janis Ian – Aftertones – baritone saxophone
- Janis Ian – Janis Ian – Flute[24]
- Van McCoy – Rhythms of the World – trumpet[25]
- Barry Manilow – Even Now – Musicians contractor in New York[26]
- Barry Manilow – Barry Manilow II[27]
- Van Morrison – T.B. Sheets – flute, saxophone[28]
- NYCC – Make Every Day Count – contractor for horns and strings[29]
- Dusty Springfield – Longing – music contractor[30]
References
- ^ Chasing Sound: Technology, Culture, and the Art of Studio Recording from Edison to the LP By Susan Schmidt Horning Page 206
- ^ Dans Papers Joe Delia to Rock Dan's Best of the Best Concert on Friday
- ^ Arthur William Kaplan October 28, 1935 – October 11, 2025
- ^ Freenotes Kaplan, Artie Archived February 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Billboard September 9, 1972 Page 14 Studio Track by Sam Sutherland
- ^ "Arthur Kaplan Obituary - Plantation, FL". Neptune Cremation Service. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ Sound: Technology, Culture, and the Art of Studio Recording from Edison to the LP By Susan Schmidt Horning [https://books.google.com/books?id=wS6cAQAAQBAJ&dq=Artie+Kaplan+session+musician&pg=PA206 Page 206
- ^ Romania Insider June 21, 2013 – daily news Dutch singer Oscar Benton to perform in Romania this autumn Archived December 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ australian-charts.com ARTIE KAPLAN Archived December 4, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 45 Cat Artie Kaplan Harmony
- ^ 45 Cat Artie Kaplan Harmony
- ^ 45 Cat Artie Kaplan Bensonhurst Blues
- ^ Discogs Artie Kaplan – Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay
- ^ 45 Cat Artie Kaplan Music Is Sweet Music To My Soul
- ^ Both Sides Now Publications Paramount Album Discography By Mike Callahan and David Edwards
- ^ wax fm Artie Kaplan – My Name Is Artie Kaplan
- ^ Discogs Artie Kaplan – My Songs
- ^ Discogs Artie Kaplan – Greatest Hits
- ^ "Artie Kaplan Albums Releases @ARTISTdirect". Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
- ^ Chris White Fansite Alex Frazer-Harrison THE HISTORY OF “TOP 40” SAXOPHONE SOLOS 1955–2005
- ^ A Record A Day Record #0166: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do / As Long As I Live – NEIL SEDAKA
- ^ The Musical World of J.J. Johnson By Joshua Berrett, Louis G. Bourgois III Page 394 -237-
- ^ Discogs Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes – Reflections Of A Golden Dream
- ^ Softshoe's Music Matters Site Janis Ian
- ^ Discogs Van McCoy – Rhythms Of The World
- ^ Album Liner Notes.com Barry Manilow Even Now ARISTA AB 4164, Original 1978 album liner notes
- ^ Discogs Barry Manilow – Barry Manilow II
- ^ Progrography Van Morrison: T.B. Sheets (1973)
- ^ Discogs NYCC* – Make Every Day Count
- ^ "Beautiful Soul the ABC Dunhill Collection by Dusty Springfield @ARTISTdirect". Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.