Artist:Peter Nero
Song:Theme from Summer of '42
Album:Peter Nero's Greatest Hits
Peter Nero is a classical pianist who has recorded pop instrumental albums since the 60s. Normally he covers pop songs or movie themes. His cover of Michel Legrand's theme from the 1971 film Summer of '42 was a top 30 pop hit. Like many instrumental artists, his albums sold well. He was born Bernard Nierow May 22, 1934 in Brooklyn, NY. He studied at Brooklyn College and Juilliard. Nero could have been a virtuoso classical pianist. But he liked jazz and he wanted to mix jazz with classical music. So he was playing New York clubs when he was discovered by RCA Records executive Stan Gleeson. Gleeson signed Nierow and changed his name to Peter Nero. Nero's 1961 debut album Piano Forte won him a Best New Artist Grammy. Nero recorded 23 albums for RCA. He moved to Columbia in 1969. Nero also composed the score for the 1963 film Sunday in New York. But for the most part, Nero was an instrumental album artist. Summer of '42 was a very popular 1971 film. Michel Legrand composed the score. There was a soundtrack album but there wasn't much music in the film other than the theme. It looks like pianist Roger Williams and Nero got the idea to cover the theme at the same time. Williams' recording was released first but it didn't chart. Nero's recording reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it was a top ten Adult Contemporary hit. With a guy like Nero, consistent album sales was more important than a hit single. So the success of Summer of '42 was a surprise. Nero conducted and arranged with veteran arranger Lee Holdridge. The album was produced by Wally Gold and Paul Leka. Leka became a producer after the success of Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye). You can get Summer of '42 on this comp. Beware of re-recorded versions. Nero left Columbia in 1973. He recorded sporadically after that. Nero was director of the Philly Pops Orchestra from 1979 until his 2013 retirement. Here's Peter Nero performing Theme from Summer of '42.
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