Alan Copeland, the vocalist of The Modernaires, has died. He was 96.
Copeland's friend Bob Lehmann first confirmed the news in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. He said the musician died on Dec. 28 in an assisted living facility in Sonora, California.
His other friends and fans shared their thoughts on Facebook and remembered Copeland's legacy in the industry.
"He was one of the Special ones - an angel on this earth - so generous of his love and spirit," one said. "I am so grateful that our lives intersected. I am so grateful to have called him a friend. On angels wings I send you love on your next journey - thank you for being such a blessing in my life."
Before his death, the "The Red Skelton Hour" crooner was still able to sing and play keyboards with Now You Hazz Jazz this fall. Lehmann, the drummer of the quartet, revealed it was Copeland's dream to play in a small group until his last breath.
Remembering Alan Copeland
Born in Los Angeles on Oct. 6, 1926, Copeland was known as Weaver during his time as a member of the Robert Mitchell Boy Choir. They created and sang tracks for several renowned films, including "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Angels With Dirty Faces," "Meet John Doe," "Going My way," and "Yankee Doodle Dandy," among others.
Following his stint with the US Navy, he debuted his own vocal group, The Twin Tones.
In 1948, he joined The Modernaires for the first time and started performing with them alongside Dick Haymes and The Andrews Sisters. They also marked their appearance in "The Glenn Miller Story" before he went solo on the radio and television music program, "Your Hit Parade."
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Copeland remarkably wrote and co-wrote songs that hit the charts, including "Too Young To Know," "High Society," "Make Love to Me," "While the Vesper Bells Were Ringing," and "Darling, Darling, Darling."
He eventually won the Best Contemporary Pop Performance by a Chorus at the 1968 Grammys following his work with The Beatles' "Norweigian Wood" for "Mission: Impossible."
While doing these, he continuously arranged vocals for Bling Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Engelbert Humperdinck, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, and Sarah Vaughan.
Before going back to The Modernaires in the 1990s, Copeland joined the band formed by Tony Randall's Felix Unger. In 2007, he published his "Jukebox Saturday Nights" memoir.
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