Al De Lory

{{Short description|American record producer, arranger, and musician (1930–2012)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Al De Lory | image = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Alfred V. De Lory | native_name = | native_name_lang = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|1930|1|31}} | birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2012|2|5|1930|1|31}} | death_place = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | genre = Pop, surf rock, country | occupation = Record producer, arranger, composer, musician, conductor | instrument = Keyboards | years_active = 1950s–2000s | label = Capitol Records | past_member_of = The Wrecking Crew }}

'''Alfred V. De Lory''' (January 31, 1930 – February 5, 2012) was an American record producer, arranger, conductor and session musician.<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=al-delory-mn0000605609 |tab=biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=Al De Lory Biography |first=Bruce |last=Eder |publisher=All Media Network |website=Allmusic |access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> He was the producer and arranger of a series of worldwide hits by Glen Campbell in the 1960s, including John Hartford's "Gentle on My Mind", Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman" and "Galveston". He was also a member of the 1960s Los Angeles session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, and inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007.

==Biography==

Born in Los Angeles, De Lory was the son of a studio musician. As a child he studied piano and began arranging music while in the Army. Upon his discharge, he worked as a pianist in studio orchestras and in clubs.

In the late 1950s De Lory co-wrote the 1960 #1 hit novelty song "Mr. Custer", recorded by Larry Verne. As an L.A. based session musician in the early 1960s De Lory played keyboards for various Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" productions, recordings of Surf rock, and The Beach Boys' ''Pet Sounds''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Al_de_Lory.html |title=Al De Lory Interview |website=Album Liner Notes |access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref>

By the mid-1960s Ken Nelson had hired him as producer and arranger for Capitol Records, and he provided a key element in the success of Glen Campbell's million selling hit singles and albums from 1967 to 1972. As a bandleader he had his own hit in 1970 with an instrumental version of the "Song from M*A*S*H". In the 1970s he moved to Nashville, producing country artists and film soundtracks, (including ''The Devil's Rain''). He also played and recorded with his own Latin Jazz groups.

De Lory's youngest child, daughter, Donna De Lory, is a singer, session musician and recording artist. De Lory and Niki Haris were backing vocalists for Madonna, appearing on numerous albums, in videos and accompanying her on tour. De Lory's oldest daughter, Jolene, appeared on the single "Sing," by The Carpenters. His son, Alan DeLory, is also a singer/songwriter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Singer-Donna-De-Lory-stretches-her-talents/31745.html |title=6291 - Singer Donna De Lory stretches her talents - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News Archive - Windy City Times |website=Windycitymediagroup.com |date=11 May 2011 |access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?n=jolene-d-delory&pid=19404725&fhid=4752 |title=Jolene Delory Obituary - Louisville, KY | Courier-Journal |website=Legacy.com |access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://hunnypotunlimited.com/events/hpl-432-1-6-2020 |title=Hunnypot | Where Music Lovers Go To Play - DONNA DE LORY (GUEST INTERVIEW/DJ SET) + LA MACHINE DE RÊVE + ZEUS REBEL WATERS + h2the + SUN IN CHINA + MIKE MILLIE & (DJ) VEGGIE TRON + HUNNYPOT DANCE PARTY |website=Hunnypotunlimited.com |date=2016-02-13 |access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref>

De Lory died in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 82.<ref>{{cite book |url={{Google books|LO3ymSmVrlMC|page=76|plainurl=yes}} |title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2012 |first=Harris M., III |last=Lentz |publisher=McFarland & Company |year=2013 |page=76 |isbn=978-0786470631}}</ref>

==Selected discography==

===As session musician=== *1962 "He's a Rebel" – The Crystals. Produced by Phil Spector *1963 "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" – Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans. Produced by Phil Spector *1963 ''A Christmas Gift for You'' – Various Artists. Produced by Phil Spector *1963 "Hey Little Cobra" – The Rip Chords. Produced by Terry Melcher and Bruce Johnston *1965 ''Wonderful Life'' – Irene Kral *1966 ''Pet Sounds'' – The Beach Boys. Produced by Brian Wilson

Also Jan & Dean, The Hondells, Doris Day, Tina Turner, The Righteous Brothers

===As producer and/or arranger===

====Glen Campbell albums==== *1967 ''Burning Bridges'' *1967 ''Gentle on My Mind'' (#5 US album) *1967 ''By the Time I Get to Phoenix'' (#15 US album) *1968 ''Hey Little One'' (#26 US album) *1968 ''A New Place in the Sun'' (#24 US album) *1968 ''Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell'' (#11 US album) *1968 ''That Christmas Feeling'' (#1 Billboard Christmas album) *1968 ''Wichita Lineman'' (#1 US album) *1969 ''Galveston'' (#2 US album) *1969 ''True Grit'' (#77 US album) *1969 ''Glen Campbell Live'' (#13 US album) *1970 ''Try a Little Kindness'' (#12 US album) *1970 ''Oh Happy Day'' (#38 US album) *1970 ''Norwood'' (#90 US album) *1970 ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album'' (#27 US album) *1971 ''The Last Time I Saw Her'' (#87 US album) *1971 ''Anne Murray / Glen Campbell'' (#128 US album) *1972 ''The Artistry of Glen Campbell''

====Other artists==== Donovan, The Four Preps, Dobie Gray, The Lettermen, Donna Loren, Al Martino, Anne Murray, Jim Nabors, Wayne Newton, Andy Russell, The Sugar Shoppe, The Turtles, Ricky Van Shelton

===As bandleader=== *1969 ''The Glen Campbell Song Book'' *1969 ''Plays "Midnight Cowboy"'' *1970 ''Plays Song from M*A*S*H'' *1970 ''Theme from Love Story and Other Themes of Romance'' *1980 ''Somebody's Knockin′'' *1996 ''Floreando: Salsa Jazz'' *2009 ''Hot Gandinga: Hotter Than Hot Salsa Jazz!''

===Soundtrack composer=== *1973 ''Jory'' *1974 ''Buster and Billie'' *1975 ''The Devil's Rain'' *1985 ''What Comes Around''

==Awards== *1967 Grammy Award - Best Country & Western Recording: "Gentle On My Mind". Producer: Al De Lory *1968 Grammy Award - Album of the Year: ''By The Time I Get To Phoenix''. Producer: Al De Lory

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Discogs artist|266413-Al-De-Lory}} *{{IMDb name|0209843}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:De Lory, Al}} Category:1930 births Category:2012 deaths Category:Musicians from Los Angeles Category:20th-century American keyboardists Category:American music arrangers Category:Record producers from California Category:American session musicians Category:The Wrecking Crew (music) members Category:Phi-Dan Records artists