Norman Paris (born Norman Thaddeus Pavlak;Gaghan, Jerry (Feb 5, 1963). "Smiles Again at Theatres: The Entertainment Beat; You'll Want to Know; Progress Report". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 49. Retrieved January 24, 2025."Funeral Announcements: Pavlak". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p.B6. Retrieved January 24, 2025. "Joseph H., age 80, of Doylestown; formerly of Trevose [...H]e was the brother of the late Norman Paris and the late Florence Balasa""New York, New York City, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WZ7K-MPW2 : Sat Mar 09 21:41:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Norman Thaddeus Pawlak and Discharged From U.S. Navy, 29 Apr 1946. October 21, 1925 – July 10, 1977)United Press International (July 11, 1977). "Obituaries: Norman Paris, 51, Composer, Arranger". Newsday (Nassau Edition). p. 34. was an American pianist, arranger, composer, conductor, and bandleader. Hailed by Billboard's Bob Francis and Bob Rolontz as—respectively—"one of the best accompanists in the business" and a "sensational pian[ist whose] stylings, even in back of the singers, were a delight,"Rolontz, Bob (March 1, 1952). "Night Club-Vaude Reviews: Le Ruban Bleu, New York (Wednesday, February 13)". The Billboard. p. 13. Paris composed and/or arranged music for numerous television programs during the nineteen fifties and sixties,Adams, Cindy (August 27, 1962). "TV Musical Director Doesn't Look the Part". The Evening Sun. p. B7 frequently appearing with his trio as well. In addition, he provided musical arrangements and/or orchestrations for both the big screen and Broadway stage."Norman Paris: credits". Internet Broadway Database
Early life and career Born in Frankford, Philadelphia, Norman Pavlak was the middle child of three, born to Polish émigrés Joseph A. and Natalia—and/or Petronela—Theodora Pavlak."United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K9F-X9F2 : 10 February 2023), Norman Thaddeus Pawlak, ."United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH7R-9J3 : Thu Jul 11 18:22:10 UTC 2024), Entry for Joseph Pawlak and Petronela T Pawlak, 1930. Having reportedly made his professional debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of six,Associated Press (July 11, 1987). "Norman Paris, music arranger, Phila. Native". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 6C. Pavlak played accordion duets with his father at bar mitzvahs while still in his late pre-teens, and, over the next decade, was awarded successive scholarships to the Philadelphia Music Academy and Curtis Institute—where he studied, respectively, with Helen Hause and Ralph Berkowitz"Music Notes: Many Concerts, Recitals to Be Given This Week; Events in Wide Variety Scheduled; Other Items Listed for the Future/ Schools and Studios". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 12, 1939. p. 38. Retrieved January 24, 2025.—and to Temple University. Evidently, he and/or his father also attended classes at E.U. Wurlitzer Music and Sound at some point, because in 1943, they performed together again, this time at a War Bond rally held in Philadelphia's Witherspoon Building, reported to be the work of "Wurlitzer students.""Wurlitzer Bond Rally Collects $12,000". Philadelphia Inquirer. May 8, 1943. p. 8.
After serving for two years in the U.S. Navy in World War II, Pavlak moved to New York in 1946, where, by mid-June, he had adopted the stage name Paris, found work at Manhattan's Copacabana, and appeared on Paul Whiteman's Starway to the Stars, a radio program showcasing young talent. Among this episode's fellow rising stars was a young Judy Holliday, about four months into her star-making Broadway run as Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday."High Spots on Air Today". Richmond Times-Dispatch. June 16, 1946. p. D-8. Two months later, another similarly themed series, Skyline Roof, featured host Gordon MacRae joined in song by the young pianist.
The following year, Paris formed his eponymous trio, with guitarist Frank Cerchia and bassist Justin Arndt.Kaye, Joseph (June 27, 1954). "Wins By His Fiddling; A Lawrence, Kas. Boy Is Well Liked on Broadway". The Kansas City Star. p. 2D. Beginning in October 1947, they provided the music—both backgrounds and the occasional featured instrumental—at Julius Monk's Le Ruban Bleu until its closing more than nine years later.Sullivan, Ed (January 25, 1957). "Little Old New York: The Passing Show". New York Daily News. p. 46.Walker, Danton (February 18, 1957). "Broadway: The Frantic Fifties". New York Daily News. p. 41. They accompanied artists such as Maxine Sullivan, Connie Sawyer,Tell, Jack (November 29, 1947). "Followup Reviews: Le Ruban Bleu". The Billboard. p. 39. Bibi Osterwald,Smith, Bill (September 24, 1949). "Le Ruban Bleu Tops Blue Angel at Season's Bow". The Billboard. p. 41. Ethel WatersLuppino Jr., Frank (November 10, 1956). "News Review: Waters in Party Mood at Reuban". The Billboard. p. 17. Larry Blake,Smith, Bill (April 1, 1950). "Night Club Reviews: Followup Review". p. 54. Michael Brown, actress Shirl Conway, in her singing debut"NY Niteries Face Fall With Full Talent Line-Ups". The Billboard. Sep 2, 1950. p. 47. the husband-wife duo Alan and Phyllis Sues.Francis, Bob (December 3, 1955). "Revue Digest – Night Clubs: Irwin Corey, Le Rban Bleu, New York". The Billboard. p. 13. Ellen Hanley and her husband Ronny Graham,Rolontz, Bob (March 1, 1952). "Night Club-Vaude Reviews". The Billboard. p. 13. and Paris's future wife, Dorothy Loudon.(June 6, 1951). "Caught Again". The Billboard. p. 33.
Reviewing the trio's Ruban Bleu debut, Variety's Abel Green dubbed the unit "one of the brightest new combinations around." [...] Trios of this nature frequently are lost in the shuffle of being serviceable accompanists period. But not so Paris who, firstly, is a stylized piano virtuoso in his own right; and in combination with his other two strings, a zingy act that can play class cafes and vaudeville with equal facility."Abel (October 29, 1947). "New Acts: Normann Paris 3 [sic]". Variety. p. 55.
In March 1957, roughly one month after Bleu's demise, the Paris trio began providing musical backgrounds for NBC's daytime series Home, hosted by Arlene Francis. When the show was cancelled five months later in favor of her own self-titled series, Paris was named musical director. Other shows on which he served as MD include I've Got a Secret,Gill, Alan (August 1, 1962). "A Look at TV: Song Writer Rides High On Musical Mirth". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 18. That Was the Week That Was ,"Other Credits". The Gettysburg Times TV Programs. February 1, 1964. p. 3. "Norman Paris, recently named musical director for the U.S. version of 'That Was The Week That Was,' did the music for the movie 'David and Lisa.' His TV credits include the special 'JFK Reports' and the weekly 'I’ve Got A Secret.'" The Generation Gap,Scwartz, David; Ryan, Steve; Wostbrock, Fred (1987). The Encyclopedia Of TV Game Shows (A-L--1987 Edition). New York: New York Zoetrope. p. 184. . For Your Pleasure (with Kyle MacDonnell),"Television Find: An Intimate Voice and Good Looks Make Kyle MacDonnell a New Star; Television Find (continued): Television's Minor Hazards". Life. pp. 83, 84. and The Blue Angel."Network Notes: Orson Bean". The Anniston Star Program. September 4, 1954. p. 13.
Interviewed many years later, Gene Bertoncini recalled his time as a studio guitarist at NBC, performing Paris's charts for That Was the Week That Was. Yes, it was live. I used my L-5. The conductor Norman Paris, who was a really great guy, had a trio that would do complicated guitar/piano things. He'd put this stuff out in front of me, and I wasn't that quick of a study, but he was so patient with me and would give me a chance to woodshed whatever he'd written for each show.Carlton, Jim (). Conversations with Great Jazz and Studio Guitarists. Pacific, MO: Bill's Music Shelf. p. 160. .
Paris also handled the music on a number of special broadcasts; this includes scoring JFK Report No. 1 and its like-named sequels—all airing during or immediately following the late president's administration—as well as several hosted by comedian Alan King, including Alan King and His Buddy (1969), Alan King Looks Back in Anger—A Review of 1972 (1973), The Many Faces of Comedy (1973) and Alan King's Energy Crisis (1974).Terrace, Vincent (2013). Television Specials : 5,336 Entertainment Programs, 1936-2012. Jefferson, NC : McFarland & Company. pp. 17, 246. . He was music director on NBC's Johnny Carson Discovers Cypress Gardens—billed as Carson's debut as host of a non-recurring program"Carson Is Set to Star in Special". The Fresno Bee. May 19, 1968. p. 16-TV."Surfin' and Funnin'; Johnny Carson at Cypress Gardens". Long Beach Independent. September 1, 1968. p. TV-13.—and scored the 1969, hour-long Kenya-centered documentary, Adventures at the Jade River, written and directed by David Seltzer and hosted by William Holden, as well as a made-for-TV remake of Arsenic and Old Lace, airing that same year and starring Helen Hayes and Lillian Gish.Sinister Cinema (October 10, 2021). "Arsenic and Old Lace 1969 Bob Crane, Helen Hayes". YouTube. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
As for motion pictures, Paris arranged and conducted the scores of two notable firsts: David and Lisa—the dual directing/screenwriting debut of Frank and Eleanor Perry—and writer-director Ernest Pintoff's first live-action film, the 1961 short, The Shoes, starring Buddy Hackett.Canby, Vincent (March 8, 1961). "New York as a 'Location' Burg; More as to Police Helpfulness". Variety. p. 15. Paris once again teamed with Pintoff the following year on the animated short, The Old Man and the Flower.
Paris's last credits were as a composer on episodes of the series The Big Blue Marble.
Personal life and death After having two children together, Paris and his first wife separated in 1954.Kilgallen, Dorothy (January 10, 1955). "The Voice of Broadway". The Evening Sun. p. 4. For the next 18 years—beginning in January 1955—he and comedienne Dorothy Loudon dated,Chisolm, Elise T. (December 8, 1971). "Actress Is Making Her Wedding Dress". The Evening Sun. p. B4. "December 18, Dorothy will marry Norman Paris (of the Norman Paris Trio), whom she says she has been going with for 17 years. (The wedding will be in a friend's apart ment in New York City) [...] She met Norman Paris at the Blue Ribbon in New York City about 18 years ago. Proud to admit she's a one-man-gal, the star of "Marigolds" summed up: "You see there's never been anyone else in my life but Norman, he's a great guy." finally tying the knot on December 18, 1971.Rosenbaum, Jack (December 21, 1971). "Our Man on the Town: Jingle Bells". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 31.
On July 10, 1977, Paris died at age 51 at Manhattan's Mount Sinai Hospital, where he had been admitted approximately one week before, reportedly as a result of "complications from a heart ailment and acute diabetes". He was survived by his wife, the two children from his prior marriage, his mother and two siblings.
The following year, composer-arranger Patrick Williams paid tribute to his late colleague with the final "special thanks" offered on his new MPS release, Come Out and Shine.This album is dedicated to the memory of Norman Paris, who "shined" in my life."'Come On And Shine' by Patrick Williams, MPS Records'. Internet Archive.
Discography As leader
Evening in Paris – The Norman Paris Trio (Columbia, 1951)Evening with Paris (Music LP, 1951). WorldCat. The Cocktail Hour – The Norman Paris Trio (Columbia, 1956) Music from Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'The Sound Of Music' – The Norman Paris Quartet (Harmony, 1960)
As sideman, arranger or composer
With Ben Bagley Jerome Kern Revisited (Columbia, 1965)Watt, Douglas (November 28, 1965). "Record Review: Kern-els". New York Daily News. p. 26.