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{{Short description|American pianist, composer, and arranger (1911–2005)}}
{{Infobox musical artist  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name             = Martin Denny
| image            = 
| background       = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|1911|4|10}}
| birth_place      = [[New York City, New York]], U.S.
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|2005|3|2|1911|4|10}}
| death_place      = [[Honolulu, Hawaii]], U.S.
| instrument       = {{hlist|Piano|[[marimba]]| [[Vibraphone|vibes]]|[[bongos]]|[[congas]]|[[timbales]]|Burmese gongs}}
| genre            = [[Exotica]], [[lounge music]]
| occupation       = {{hlist|Musician|composer|[[arrangement|arranger]]|bandleader|[[publisher]]}}
| label            = [[Liberty Records|Liberty]]
}}

'''Martin Denny''' (April 10, 1911 – March 2, 2005) was an American pianist, composer, and arranger. Known as the "father of [[exotica]]",<ref name="All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide To Popular Music, 4th Edition">{{cite book|last1=Bogdanov|first1=Vladimir|last2=Woodstra|first2=Chris|last3=Erlewine|first3=Stephen Thomas|title=All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide To Popular Music, 4th Edition|publisher=Backbeat Books|year=2001|isbn=978-0-87930-627-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/allmusicguidedef00bogd}}</ref> he was a multi-instrumentalist and could play a number of [[percussion instrument]]s. In a long career that saw him performing up to 3 weeks prior to his death, he toured the world popularizing his brand of [[lounge music]] which included exotic percussion, imaginative rearrangements of popular songs, and original songs that celebrated [[Tiki culture]].

==Biography==
Denny was born in [[New York City]] and raised in [[Los Angeles]]. He studied classical piano<ref name="American Big Bands">{{cite book|last=Lee III|first=William F.|title=American Big Bands|publisher=Hal Leonard|year=2006|isbn=978-0-634-08054-8|url=https://archive.org/details/americanbigbands00leew}}</ref> and toured [[South America]] for four and a half years in the 1930s with the Don Dean Orchestra.<ref name="Widening the Horizon: Exoticism in Post-War Popular Music">{{cite book|last=Hayward|first =Philip|title=Widening the Horizon: Exoticism in Post-War Popular Music|page=174|publisher=John Libbey Publishing|year=1999|isbn=978-1-86462-047-4}}</ref> This tour began Denny's fascination with Latin rhythms. Denny collected a large number of ethnic instruments from all over the world, which he used to spice up his stage performances.<ref name='passing-the-tikitorch'/>

After serving in the [[United States Army Air Forces]] in [[World War II]], Denny returned to [[Los Angeles]] in 1945 where he studied piano and composition under Dr. Wesley La Violette<ref name="Studies with LaViolette">{{cite journal|title=Studies with LaViolette|journal=DownBeat|issue=1958 Vol 25}}</ref> and orchestration under Arthur Lange at the [[Los Angeles Conservatory of Music]]. He later studied at the [[University of Southern California]].<ref name='passing-the-tikitorch'/>

In January 1954, [[Don the Beachcomber]] brought Denny to [[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]], for a two-week engagement. He stayed to form his own combo in 1955, performing under contract at the Shell Bar in the [[Hilton Hawaiian Village|Hawaiian Village]] on Oahu and soon signing to [[Liberty Records]].<ref name="The Billboard Book of Number One Albums: The Inside Story Behind Pop Music's Blockbuster Records">{{cite book|last=Rosen|first=Craig|title=The Billboard Book of Number One Albums: The Inside Story Behind Pop Music's Blockbuster Records|page=1955|publisher=Billboard Books|year=1996|isbn=978-0-8230-7586-7}}</ref> The original combo consisted of Augie Colon on percussion and birdcalls, [[Arthur Lyman]] on vibes, John Kramer on string bass, and Denny on piano.<ref name="Elevator Music: A Surreal History of Muzak, Easy-Listening, and Other Moodsong">{{cite book|last=Lanza|first=Joseph|title=Elevator Music: A Surreal History of Muzak, Easy-Listening, and Other Moodsong|page=122|publisher=University of Michigan Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-472-08942-0}}</ref> Lyman soon left to form his own group and future [[Herb Alpert]] sideman and [[Baja Marimba Band]] founder [[Julius Wechter]] replaced him. Harvey Ragsdale later replaced Kramer.<ref name='passing-the-tikitorch'/>

"We traveled a lot on the Mainland, but we came back every 12 weeks because the guys had their families here [in Hawaii]," recalled Denny. In 1955, the musician met his future wife, June, and married her the following year. His daughter, Christina was born a few years later. "I loved the lifestyle and my career was built here," said Denny.<ref name='passing-the-tikitorch'>{{cite news|first=Lesa|last=Griffith|title=Passing the Tiki Torch: Local collective Don Tiki bows to big kahuna Martin Denny|date=2003-10-01|url=http://www.honoluluweekly.com/archives/coverstory%202003/10-1-03%20Tiki/10-1-03%20Tiki.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031012220329/http://honoluluweekly.com/archives/coverstory%202003/10-1-03%20Tiki/10-1-03%20Tiki.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-10-12|work=Honolulu Weekly|access-date=2010-04-12}}</ref>

Denny described the music his combo played as "window dressing, a background".<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Exotica! The Best of Martin Denny|type=CD|publisher=Rhino Records|id=R2 70774}}</ref> He built a collection of strange and exotic instruments with the help of several airline friends. They would bring Denny back these instruments and he would build arrangements around them. His music was a combination of ethnic styles: South Pacific, the Orient and Latin rhythms.<ref name="Martin Denny — The Sound of Exotica">{{cite news|title=Martin Denny — The Sound of Exotica|last=Harada|first=Wayne|newspaper=Honolulu Advertiser|date=March 4, 2005|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Mar/04/ln/ln50p.html|access-date=May 18, 2010|archive-date=June 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610033813/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Mar/04/ln/ln50p.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During an engagement at the Shell Bar, Denny discovered what would become his trademark and the birth of "exotica". The bar had a very exotic setting: a little pool of water right outside the bandstand, rocks and [[Palmae|palm trees]] growing around, very quiet and relaxed. As the group played at night, Denny became aware of bullfrogs croaking. The croaking blended with the music and when the band stopped, so did the frogs.<ref name="Father of Exotica">{{cite web|title=Father of Exotica|last=Wadey|first=Paul|newspaper=The Independent-UK|date=March 7, 2005|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/martin-denny-527519.html|access-date=September 4, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032655/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/martin-denny-527519.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He thought it was a coincidence at first, but when he tried the tune again later, the same thing happened. This time, his bandmates began doing all sorts of tropical [[bird calls]] as a gag. The band thought it nothing more than a joke. The next day, someone approached Denny and asked if he would do the arrangement with the birds and frogs. He agreed. At rehearsal, he had the band do "[[Quiet Village]]"<ref name="Martin Denny-Quiet Village on Hawaii Calls">{{Cite web|title=Martin Denny-Quiet Village on Hawaii Calls|publisher=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJK2LwD_nEY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/OJK2LwD_nEY| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=May 18, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> with each doing a bird call spaced apart. Denny did the frog part on a grooved cylinder and the whole thing became incorporated into the arrangement of "Quiet Village". It sold more than one million copies, and was awarded a [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1978|title=The Book of Golden Discs|edition=2nd|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd|location=London, UK|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/112 112]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/112}}</ref>

The album jacket was an influential factor guiding the fantasy of Denny's music. Denny's first dozen albums featured model [[Sandra Warner|Sandy Warner]] on the cover.<ref name="Widening the Horizon: Exoticism in Post-War Popular Music"/> {{quote|Art designers always changed her looks to fit the mood of the package. For instance, we called one album with an African sound Afro-desia and Sandy dyed her hair blond for the photo session; she's seen against a background of colorful African masks. When we did Hypnotique, which is surrealistic, she had dark hair. For Primitiva, she was photographed standing waist-deep in water.}}

The ''[[Exotica (Martin Denny album)|Exotica]]'' album was recorded in December 1956 and released in 1957. In 1958, [[Dick Clark]] hosted Denny on [[American Bandstand]]. "Quiet Village" reached number two on Billboard's charts in 1959 with the ''Exotica'' album<ref name="Martin Denny-Quiet Village on Hawaii Calls"/> reaching number one. He rode the charts of [[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]] and [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] also. Denny had as many as three or four albums on the charts simultaneously during his career. He had national hits with "[[A Taste of Honey (song)|A Taste of Honey]]", "The Enchanted Sea", and "[[Ebb Tide (song)|Ebb Tide]]".<ref name="Music VF, US & UK hits charts • Top Songs, Albums and Artists">{{cite web | title=Martin Denny Songs • Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography • Music VF, US & UK hits charts | website=Music VF, US & UK hits charts • Top Songs, Albums and Artists | url=https://www.musicvf.com/Martin+Denny.art | access-date=2023-03-24 | archive-date=2024-10-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004113404/https://www.musicvf.com/Martin+Denny.art | url-status=live }}</ref>

Denny died in Honolulu on March 2, 2005, aged 93. Following a private memorial service, his ashes were scattered at sea.

==Legacy==
His combo spawned two successful offshoots: [[Julius Wechter]] (of Tijuana Brass and [[Baja Marimba Band]] fame) and exotica vibist [[Arthur Lyman]].

Denny's "Firecracker" is well known in Japan as the number which inspired [[Haruomi Hosono]] to establish [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/04/electronicmusic.filmandmusic11|title=John Lewis meets the trio that is Yellow Magic Orchestra|first=John|last=Lewis|date=3 July 2008|access-date=27 October 2017|website=Theguardian.com|archive-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111061211/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jul/04/electronicmusic.filmandmusic11|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/01/22/the-essential-yellow-magic-orchestra/|title=The Essential... Yellow Magic Orchestra|date=22 January 2015|website=Factmag.com|access-date=27 October 2017|archive-date=23 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123053959/http://www.factmag.com/2015/01/22/the-essential-yellow-magic-orchestra/|url-status=live}}</ref> a "subversive" version of the song, according to Hosono, appears on the band's [[Yellow Magic Orchestra (album)|eponymous debut album]] and was released as a single to promote it, charting at No. 60 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and No. 18 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|''Billboard'' R&B Singles charts]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Yellow Magic Orchestra: Billboard Singles|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/yellow-magic-orchestra-p5886/charts-awards/billboard-singles|access-date=2011-05-25|archive-date=2024-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004113507/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/yellow-magic-orchestra-mn0000683750/biographyAjax|url-status=live}}</ref> The song was later adapted into [[Jennifer Lopez]]'s "[[I'm Real (Jennifer Lopez song)|I'm Real]]".<ref name="Friedman 2018">{{cite web | last=Friedman | first=Roger | title=Flashback: How Mariah Carey Was Ripped off by Jennifer Lopez and Others When the "Glitter" Project Was Being Put Together | website=Showbiz411 | date=2018-12-20 | url=https://www.showbiz411.com/2018/12/20/flashback-how-mariah-carey-was-ripped-off-by-jennifer-lopez-and-others-when-the-glitter-project-was-being-put-together | access-date=2023-03-24 | archive-date=2023-03-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324150147/https://www.showbiz411.com/2018/12/20/flashback-how-mariah-carey-was-ripped-off-by-jennifer-lopez-and-others-when-the-glitter-project-was-being-put-together | url-status=live }}</ref>

Former [[Psychic TV]] member [[Fred Giannelli]] released an album in 1991 entitled ''Fred'';<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Fred-Fred/master/70420|title=Fred Giannelli - Fred|website=Discogs|access-date=27 October 2017|archive-date=27 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027231926/https://www.discogs.com/Fred-Fred/master/70420|url-status=live}}</ref> the second track on that album is "Mr. Denny", an instrumental tribute to Martin Denny that features excerpts of an interview with him.

Denny's recordings are prominently featured in the 1999 film ''[[Breakfast of Champions (film)|Breakfast of Champions]]'', based on the [[Kurt Vonnegut]] novel. This is primarily because the car dealership featured in the film is having a Hawaiian-based promotion.

Denny's music is a recurring theme in the Sandman Slim series of fantasy novels by [[Richard Kadrey]], where his music is always playing on the jukebox in the Bamboo House of Dolls, "LA's only punk tiki bar".

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
{{div col|colwidth=32em}}
* ''[[Exotica (Martin Denny album)|Exotica]]'', [[Liberty Records|Liberty]] LRP-3034 (mono) (1957)
* ''[[Exotica (Martin Denny album)|Exotica]]'', Liberty LST-7034 (stereo) (1958) - re-recorded for stereo with [[Julius Wechter]] replacing [[Arthur Lyman]]
* ''[[Exotica Volume II|Exotica Vol.2]]'', Liberty LRP-3077/LST-7006 (1958)
* ''[[Forbidden Island (album)|Forbidden Island]]'', Liberty LRP-3081/LST-7001 (1958)
* ''[[Primitiva]]'', Liberty LRP-3087/LST-7023 (1958)
* ''[[Hypnotique]]'', Liberty LRP-3102/LST-7102 (1959)
* ''Afro-Desia'', Liberty LRP-3111/LST-7111 (1959)
* ''Exotica Volume III'', Liberty LRP-3116/LST-7116 (1959)
* ''[[Quiet Village: The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny]]'', Liberty LRP-3122/LST-7122 (1959)
* ''The Enchanted Sea'', Liberty LRP-3141/LST-7141 (1960)
* ''Exotic Sounds from the Silver Screen'', Liberty LRP-3158/LST-7158 (1960)
* ''Exotic Sounds Visit Broadway'', Liberty LRP-3163/LST-7163 (1960)
* ''Exotic Percussion'', Liberty LRP-3168/LST-7168 (1961)
* ''Romantica'', Liberty LRP-3207/LST-7207 (1961)
* ''Martin Denny in Person'', Liberty LRP-3224/LST-7224 (1962)
* ''A Taste of Honey'', Liberty LRP-3237/LST-7237 (1962)
* ''Exotica Suite'' with [[Si Zentner]], Liberty LSS-14020 (1962)
* ''Maryland Club's Golden Moments'',  MC-2 (1962)
* ''Another Taste of Honey'', Liberty LRP-3277/LST-7277 (1963)
* ''The Versatile Martin Denny'', Liberty LRP-3307/LST-7307 (1963)
* ''A Taste of Hits'', Liberty LRP-3328/LST-7328 (1964)
* ''Latin Village'', Liberty LRP-3378/LST-7378 (1964)
* ''Hawaii Tattoo'', Liberty LRP-3394/LST-7394 (1964)
* ''Spanish Village'', Liberty LRP-3409/LST-7409 (1965)
* ''20 Golden Hawaiian Hits'', Liberty LRP-3415/LST-7415 (1965)
* ''Martin Denny!'', Liberty LRP-3438/LST-7438 (1966)
* ''Hawaii Goes A Go-Go'', Liberty LRP-3445/LST-7445 (1966)
* ''Exotica Today'', Liberty LRP-3465/LST-7465 (1966)
* ''Golden Greats'', Liberty LRP-3467/LST-7467 (1966)
* ''Hawaii'', Liberty LRP-3488/LST-7488 (1966)
* ''Paradise Moods'', Liberty/[[Sunset Records|Sunset]] SUM-1102/SUS-5102 (1966)
* ''Exotica Classica'', Liberty LRP-3513/LST-7513 (1967)
* ''A Taste of India'', Liberty LRP-3550/LST-7550 (1968)
* ''Exotic Love'', Liberty LRP-3585/LST-7585 (1968)
* ''Exotic Moog'', Liberty LRP-3621/LST-7621 (1969)
* ''Sayonara'', Liberty/Sunset SUM-5169/SUS-5169 (1970)
* ''Exotic Night'', Liberty/Sunset SUM-5199/SUS-5199 (1970)
* ''From Maui with Love'', First American FA-7743 (1980)
* ''The Enchanted Isle'', Liberty LN-10195 (1982)
* ''Exotica '90'', [[EMI Music Japan|Toshiba EMI]]/Insideout TOCP-6160 (1990)
{{div col end}}

===Compilations and reissues===
* ''The Best of Martin Denny'', Liberty LX-5502 (1961) (compilation)
* ''The Very Best of Martin Denny'', [[United Artists Records|United Artists]] UA-LA383-E (1975) (compilation)
* ''Enchanted Islands'', [[CEMA Special Products]] S21-56638 (1984) (cassette compilation)
* ''The Exotic Sounds: The Very Best of Martin Denny'', EMI Manhattan (Japan) CP32-5657 (1989) (compilation)
* ''Paradise'', Pair PCD-2-1267 (1990) (compilation)
* ''Exotica!: The Best of Martin Denny'', [[Rhino Records|Rhino]] R2-70774 (1990) (compilation)
* ''The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny'', [[Capitol Records|Capitol]] (1990) (compilation)
* ''Quiet Village: The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny'', [[Curb Records|Curb]] D2-77685 (1994) (compilation)
* ''Exotic Moog'' (Martin Denny) / ''Moog Rock'' (Les Baxter), Electronic Vanguard EV-906-2 (1995) (bootleg reissue)
* ''Afro-Desia'', Scamp 9702 (1995) (reissue)
* ''Bachelor in Paradise: The Best of Martin Denny'', Pair (1996) (compilation)
* ''Exotica/Exotica Vol. II'', Scamp 9712 (1996) (reissue)
* ''Forbidden Island/Primitiva'', Scamp 9713 (1996) (reissue)
* ''Hypnotique/Exotica III'', Scamp 9714 (1997) (reissue)
* ''Quiet Village/Enchanted Sea'', Scamp 9715 (1997) (reissue)
* ''Baked Alaska'', Collector's Choice Music CCM-393-2 (2003) (live in 1964)
* ''The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny'', Rev-Ola (2004) (compilation)
* ''Exotica'', Rev-Ola (2005) (reissue)
* ''Exotica Vol. 2'', Rev-Ola (2005) (reissue)
* ''Hypnotique'', Rev-Ola (2005) (reissue)
* ''Primitiva'', Rev-Ola (2005) (reissue)
* ''Forbidden Island'', Rev-Ola (2006) (reissue)
* ''Quiet Village'', Rev-Ola (2006) (reissue)
* ''Exotica III'', Rev-Ola (2006) (reissue)
* ''Afro-Desia'', Rev-Ola (2006) (reissue)
* ''Latin Village'', Toshiba EMI (Japan) (2006) (reissue)
* ''The Best of Martin Denny's Exotica'', Capitol (2006) (compilation)
* ''Hypnotique'', Vivid Sound (Japan) (2007) (reissue)
* ''Hypnotique'', Hallmark (2015) (reissue, non-Sandy Warner cover)

==See also==
*[[Sandra Warner|Sandy Warner]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130503085948/http://www.tiki-talk.com/archives/exotica-history-at-the-temple-of-martin-denny/ The Temple of Martin Denny] 
*[http://www.danacountryman.com/Denny/Denny1.html 1997 interview with Denny]
*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/martin-denny Martin Denny Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] (2003)
{{Authority control}}
{{Martin Denny}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Denny, Martin}}
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:Exotica]]
[[Category:USC Thornton School of Music alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:American percussionists]]
[[Category:Liberty Records artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Hawaii]]
[[Category:Musicians from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Tiki culture]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces soldiers]]
[[Category:20th-century American pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male pianists]]