Al Hazan(1934-2019)
- Soundtrack
Al Hazan was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and started writing songs in his teens, appearing as a pianist on local television.
One of his first songs, "The Dance of Love", was recorded by The Bell Sisters in 1953, arranged by Nelson Riddle for RCA Victor, but it was not released at the time.
The first song of his that was released was "Is There a Heaven" by Russell Arms.
In 1957, Hazan contacted Sonny Bono at Specialty Records, leading to Bono producing Roddy Jackson's version of Hazan's song "Hiccups". Other singers who recorded Hazan's songs in the late 1950s and early 1960s included Ritchie Valens, Wanda Jackson, Buddy Cagle, James Darren, Gene McDaniels, and Johnny Crawford.
Hazan also worked as a session musician and arranger. In early 1962, he was contacted by Rod Pierce of Rendezvous Records, who needed a pianist to replace Ernie Freeman, who was unavailable, on a session. The recording was of "Nut Rocker", a rocked-up arrangement by Kim Fowley of the march from Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker.
He also released vocal recordings under various pseudonyms, including Al Anthony and Dudley Duncan, and as lead singer of The Galaxies (also known as The Royal Galaxies), again without success.
As a music producer, Hazan produced over 50 records, released on various labels including Capitol Records, United Artists Records, and Columbia Records. By his own account, he worked with Fred Astaire, Herb Alpert, Nick Venet, Terry Melcher, The Beau Brummels, Wanda Jackson, Lou Adler and musicians Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, Glen Campbell, Leon Russell, Ray Pohlman, Tommy Tedesco and the rest of the first-call musicians in Los Angeles.
Hazan left the music business in 1965. He became a licensed real estate broker, a professional fashion photographer, served two years overseas in the armed forces and, after going back to college later in life, graduated U.C.L.A. magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies in 1984, going on to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology in 1990.
As Dr. Hazan, he was awarded a presidential commendation by President Ronald Reagan for his work with victims of violent crimes. He also specialized in couples therapy and wrote his first book about love relationships entitled Blissful Fusion - The Seven Stages of a Successful Love Relationship.
Al Hazan's 1961 song "Is It a Sin?" (recorded as Al Anthony) was used in the Netflix Original series "Stranger Things" in season 3, episode 3.
Hazan died in Los Angeles, aged 84, in 2019.
One of his first songs, "The Dance of Love", was recorded by The Bell Sisters in 1953, arranged by Nelson Riddle for RCA Victor, but it was not released at the time.
The first song of his that was released was "Is There a Heaven" by Russell Arms.
In 1957, Hazan contacted Sonny Bono at Specialty Records, leading to Bono producing Roddy Jackson's version of Hazan's song "Hiccups". Other singers who recorded Hazan's songs in the late 1950s and early 1960s included Ritchie Valens, Wanda Jackson, Buddy Cagle, James Darren, Gene McDaniels, and Johnny Crawford.
Hazan also worked as a session musician and arranger. In early 1962, he was contacted by Rod Pierce of Rendezvous Records, who needed a pianist to replace Ernie Freeman, who was unavailable, on a session. The recording was of "Nut Rocker", a rocked-up arrangement by Kim Fowley of the march from Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker.
He also released vocal recordings under various pseudonyms, including Al Anthony and Dudley Duncan, and as lead singer of The Galaxies (also known as The Royal Galaxies), again without success.
As a music producer, Hazan produced over 50 records, released on various labels including Capitol Records, United Artists Records, and Columbia Records. By his own account, he worked with Fred Astaire, Herb Alpert, Nick Venet, Terry Melcher, The Beau Brummels, Wanda Jackson, Lou Adler and musicians Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, Glen Campbell, Leon Russell, Ray Pohlman, Tommy Tedesco and the rest of the first-call musicians in Los Angeles.
Hazan left the music business in 1965. He became a licensed real estate broker, a professional fashion photographer, served two years overseas in the armed forces and, after going back to college later in life, graduated U.C.L.A. magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies in 1984, going on to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology in 1990.
As Dr. Hazan, he was awarded a presidential commendation by President Ronald Reagan for his work with victims of violent crimes. He also specialized in couples therapy and wrote his first book about love relationships entitled Blissful Fusion - The Seven Stages of a Successful Love Relationship.
Al Hazan's 1961 song "Is It a Sin?" (recorded as Al Anthony) was used in the Netflix Original series "Stranger Things" in season 3, episode 3.
Hazan died in Los Angeles, aged 84, in 2019.
